Review of medical biosensors and associated materials problems

Developers of biosensors as medical devices are using emerging technologies that incorporate chemical assays with fiber optics and semiconductors. These biosensors will eventually become indwelling catheters for monitoring blood analyte concentrations as well as functioning as controlled feedback elements for artificial organs. Materials used in these devices are subject to problems of manufacture and reliability as well as those induced by the human body's response to these "foreign agents." The Division of Mechanics and Materials Science in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration has initiated a program to investigate factors that effect sensitivity, selectivity and reliability of sensors used in biological applications. Our group's principle focus is on sensors of chemical processes. This article is an outgrowth of our research efforts and is a review of some of the technologies that are currently available or becoming available for these applications. The goal of our research is to identify factors that will have an impact on the reliability of long-term implanted medical devices with particular attention to sensors used in feedback-controlled therapeutic systems.