Biosensors combine the exquisite selectivity of biology with the processing power of modern microelectronics and
optoelectronics to offer powerful new analytical tools with major applications in medicine, environmental diagnostics
and the food and processing industries.
Biosensors consist of bio-recognition systems, typically enzymes or binding proteins, such as antibodies, immobilized
onto the surface of physicochemical transducers. The term immunosensor is often used to describe biosensors which
use antibodies as their biorecognition system. In addition to enzymes and antibodies, the biorecognition systems can
also include nucleic acids, bacteria and single cell organisms and even whole tissues of higher organisms. Specific
interactions between the target analyte and the complementary biorecognition layer produces a physicochemical change
which is detected and subsequently measured by the transducer. The transducer can take many forms depending upon the
parameters being measured - electrochemical, optical, mass and thermal changes are the most common.
The key issues in the biosensor field that are currently being addressed by Pharmacom include:
Novel techniques for the realistic mass
production of biosensors
Molecular engineering of the biosensor
interface and biorecognition components for optical performance
Direct transduction of biorecognition
events
Microfabricated biosensors, microsystems
incorporating biosensors and array-based biosensors
The requirements of Pharmacom's sensors:
Single use, disposable sensors for in-field testing.
Repeated use sensors.
Sensors for continuous, real time monitoring
Pharmacom brings together three technologies:
Microelectrodes
Genetically tailored enzymes
Unmediated electrochemistry
What does this all mean to our efforts of antibioterrorism?
