I can "sense yours" with Biosensors
Good bye "By your senses", Hello Biosensors.
WHAT ARE BIOSENSORS?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Biosensors are made up of a transducer (an electronic device that converts energy from one form to another) and a bioreceptor (biomolecules derived from organisms or synthesized receptors modelled after biological systems). The bioreceptor is responsible for the interaction with the sample of interest. The interaction between the bioreceptor and the sample of interest is then measured by the transducer which then sends a measurable electrical signal that explains proportionally the presence of the target component in the sample.
How are they used?
Placement of Biosensors
- In-vivo: This kind of biosensors is made to function inside the body. An example of this would be insulin monitoring within the body.
- In-vitro: These biosensors is the one that is used mostly in the laboratory, ie., in test tubes and culture dishes. This makes use of a biological element, eg., an enzyme that is able to recognize and signal a biochemical change. Eg., Enzyme-conductimetric biosensor for glucose monitoring.
- At-line: This kind of biosensors are used in the production industry. It mainly gets a sample, tests and from the results they can decide whether or not they're going to keep manufacturing the product. Eg., the monitoring of lactose in a dairy processing plant.
- In line: These are biosensors that become a part of the production line. it is used to monitor a certain variable with continuous production. Eg., water purification.
What are they for?
Applications of Biosensors:
- General healthcare monitoring like the Glucose monitoring for patients with Diabetes. The Glucose monitor helps diabetic patients keep track of their blood sugar levels.
- It is also helpful in the screening for diseases. One example is the "TB Breathalyser" created by the Rapid Biosensor Systems company. This analyses the breathe of an individual, checking signs for TB and eventually tells you if you have TB or not.
- Clinical analysis and diagnosis of disease
- Veterinary and agricultural applications
- Industrial processing and monitoring which mostly makes use of At-line and In line Biosensors. This helps people monitor their products to see whether they should continue producing or not. It can also help in analysing a certain component of your product.
- Environmental pollution control because biosensors are capable of detecting the presence of different substances, one of which is pollutants.
- Biosensors also help in Analytical Chemistry because it provides a larger possibility of identifying an unknown sample or help monitor known chemical species in a wider range since it makes use of biological elements. This includes new analytical methods based on the use of enzymes, antibodies and oligonucleotides. But that's way too complicated, basically, biosensors opened a new door for Analytical Chemistry because it helps in identifying even more chemical and biological species.
Sources:
- Biotechnology and Environment, Use of Biosensors to detect environmental pollutants. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.biotechnology4u.com/biotechnology_environment_use_biosensors_detect_environmental_pollutants.html
- Rapid Biosensor Systems Rapid Screening for Infectious Diseases. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.rapidbiosensor.com/
- Mandal, D., MD. (2010). Biosensor Applications. Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.news-medical.net/health/Biosensor-Applications.aspx
Biosensor. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosensor
Chaplin, M. (2014, August 6). What are biosensors? Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/enztech/biosensors.html