What Is a Biosensor?-A Terminological Guide From Biomolecular Recognition to Bioindicators

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Biosensors are crucial in medicine, research, and consumer applications (point-of-care, wearables).
• Technological advancements include spectroscopic sensing, artificial bioreceptors, synthetic biology, whole-cell biosensors, and AI.
• The expanding scope blurs the traditional definition of biosensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of biosensor sensing approaches and applications.
• To clarify the physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological principles underlying biosensors.
• To re-evaluate and broaden the definition of biosensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of diverse sensing approaches (spectroscopic, bioreceptors, synthetic biology, whole-cell, AI).
• Analysis of physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological principles.
• Examination of applications in nonliving and living systems.

Main Results:

• Identification of a wide array of biosensor technologies and their underlying principles.
• Categorization of biosensor applications across various fields.
• Demonstration of the broadened scope of biosensing.

Conclusions:

• The term biosensor now encompasses a wider range of technologies and applications than traditionally defined.
• Biosensing includes not only molecular recognition devices but also the sensing of living systems and the use of biological systems for sensing.
• A comprehensive understanding is needed to appreciate the full scope of modern biosensors.