The evolution and developments of immunosensors for health and environmental monitoring: problems and perspectives

Abstract

Abstract - This paper is an overview of the recent developments in immunosensors, which have attracted considerable attention. Immunosensors can play an important role in the improvement of public health by providing applications for which rapid detection, high sensitivity, and specificity are important, in areas such as clinical chemistry, food quality, and environmental monitoring. This review focuses on the current research in immunoassay methods based on electrochemical detection for the analysis of environmental samples or medical diagnostic methods with emphasis on recent advances, challenges and trends. Technological aspects in the development of immunosensors such as kinetics of biomolecular interaction, techniques of immobilization, simplification of assay procedures, immunointeration and catalytic studies and system miniaturization are presented Keywords : Immunoassay; Protein; Immunosensor; Bioengineering approach. INTRODUCTION Since the first biosensor of Clark & Lyons (Clark, 1992) aiming to detect glucose levels in serum samples, several analytes have been the aim of detection by the development of many biosensors - analytical devices that include a biologically sensitive element firmly immobilized or integrated into a physical transducer. Biosensors are one of the most promising lines in the production of analytical devices and monitoring. There is no doubt that the practical use in the medical area, in the food industry and in the monitoring of toxic substances in the environment has greatly stimulated the research and development of biosensors. These researches were stimulated mainly by the demands of clinical analyses and medical diagnoses; in particular, for the fast analysis of clinical preparations, for continuous monitoring