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Development of microbial sensors and their application
Hideaki Nakamura1, Mifumi Shimomura-Shimizu, Isao Karube
1School of Bionics, Tokyo University of Technology, 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, 192-0982 Tokyo, Japan.
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
|November 16, 2007
Summary
Microbial sensors, combining microbes and transducers, offer cost-effective, durable analytical tools. Despite challenges in specificity and response time, ongoing research improves their performance for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Microbial sensors, utilizing microbes as sensing elements with transducers, have been developed since 1977.
- They offer advantages like robustness, long lifespan, and cost-effectiveness, contrasting with highly specific enzyme or immunosensors.
- A key limitation is their typically long response time, though specificity has been enhanced through genetic modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive historical overview of microbial sensor development.
- To highlight the evolution of microbial sensor technology and its characteristics.
- To summarize the advantages and disadvantages of microbial sensors in analytical applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical literature on microbial sensor development.
- Analysis of the components and characteristics of microbial sensors.
- Comparison of microbial sensors with enzyme sensors and immunosensors.
Main Results:
- Microbial sensors have a long history, originating in 1977.
- Their development involves integrating microbes with transducers for sensing.
- Genetic modification has improved specificity, but response time remains a challenge.
Conclusions:
- Microbial sensors represent a significant area of analytical tool development.
- Their unique characteristics offer distinct advantages for certain applications.
- Continued research focuses on overcoming limitations like response time and enhancing specificity.
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