Over-the-Counter Biosensors: Past, Present, and Future
1Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. htmhlee@polyu.edu.hk.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 23, 2016
Summary
Electrochemical biosensors offer rapid, sensitive detection of biomolecules for home use. Innovations in lab-on-a-chip and nanosensors promise advanced biosensing devices for widespread consumer applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Growing demand for accessible, low-cost, and sensitive biomolecule detection, exemplified by glucose meters.
- Electrochemical biosensors are well-suited for point-of-care applications due to their small size and simple design.
- Limited commercial success for protein and nucleic acid biosensors compared to glucose monitoring.
Approach:
- Review of key electrochemical detection technologies for metabolites, proteins, and DNA, focusing on home-use compatibility.
- Exploration of emerging technologies like lab-on-a-chip microdevices and nanosensors (silicon and carbon nanotube field-effect sensors).
- Discussion of innovations in biosensor components: transducers, biorecognition molecules, immobilization, and signal transduction.
Key Points:
- Electrochemical biosensors are crucial for point-of-care diagnostics.
- Lab-on-a-chip and nanosensor technologies enhance biosensor performance.
- Advancements in biosensor components drive innovation.
Conclusions:
- Future biosensing devices will offer improved performance and broader applications.
- Continued innovation will likely lead to a wider availability of diverse biosensing devices in consumer settings.
- Electrochemical biosensors are poised for significant growth in home-use diagnostics and monitoring.
