MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering

Bio 198

Universal Biosensor for Detection of Influenza Virus

(Term Paper)

Engr. Donna R. Lazo

Instructor

Krizzel Ashleigh Guzman

BS Che III

March 20, 2015

I. Biotechnology Applied
Discussion
Description
Biological Recognition Elements
Catalytic biosensors
Affinity biosensors
Transducers
II. Advantages and Disadvantages
Immobilization Techniques
Characteristics of Biosensors
III. Reaction
IV. Illustrations and Tables
The schematic diagram of a biosensor
Overview of Biosensor technology
Affinity Biosensor
Summary of transducer devices
Summary of immobilization techniques
Immobilization procedure for biosensor construction
V. Bibliography

I. Biotechnology Applied

Biosensor
Discussion
A biosensor is an analytical tool used for qualitative and quantitative detection of analyte. It
incorporates a biological recognition element such as enzyme, microbial cell, receptor, DNA, antibody,
antigen, etc., which interacts with the analyte to produce primary response. This initial response is
identified and converted into a suitable electronic form with the help of a suitable transducer device.
Selection of transducer is based on the type of signal obtained from the interaction of biological
recognition element and analyte. The commonly used devices are electronic, optical, mechanical, and
thermal transducer. To insure accurate response, suitable immobilization techniques are required for
biological recognition elements, which provide proper interaction of transducer with the signal
obtained from primary sensing. Adsorption, cross-linking, entrapment, and covalent binding are some
commonly applied techniques for immobilization. The electronic signal obtained from transducer may
easily be modified, amplified, displayed, and recorded by suitable electronic devices. The use of
biological component for sensing makes the biosensor very specific, fast, and reliable, thus biosensors
are nowadays utilized in various industries for monitoring such as food quality control, medical
research, clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, agriculture, bioprocess monitoring and control,
and pharmaceutical industry, etc.
The term biosensor has been applied to devices either used to monitor living systems, or
incorporating biotic elements. The consensus, however, is that the term should be reserved for use in
the context of a sensor incorporating a biological element such as an enzyme, antibody, nucleic acid,
microorganism, or cell.

Description
A typical biosensor consists of a biological component (primary sensing element) and an
electronic device (transducer) that converts the biological signal into a measurable output. The
biological part of the sensor reacts with a particular substance of interests (i.e., the analyte) to produce a
physical or biochemical change that is detected and converted to an electrical signal by the transducer.
The amplifier increases the intensity of the signal so that it can be readily measured. These components
are usually housed within a single portable unit that can be placed at fixed strategic locations. The
biosensors display can be tailored to meet the needs of the application and can range from a simple
output such as switching on (or off), a light-emitting diode to a quantitative result displayed in
graphical format. The general schematic diagram of a biosensor is given in (Part. IV)

Biosensor consists of a biological entity such as an enzyme, antibody or nucleic acid that
interacts with an analyte and produces a signal that is measured electronically. Each biosensor,
therefore, has a biological component that acts as the sensor and an electronic component to transduce
and detect the signal. A variety of substances including nucleic acids, proteins (particularly antibodies
and enzymes), lectins (plant proteins that bind sugar moieties) and complex materials (organelles,
tissue slices, microorganisms) can be used as the biological components. In each case it is the
specificity of the biological components for an analyte (or group of related analytes) that makes the
biomolecules attractive as sensing component. For example, a single strand of DNA can be used as a

biomolecular sensor that will hybridize only to its complementary strands under appropriate conditions.
The signal, which can be electrical, optical, or thermal, is converted by means of a suitable transducer
into a measurable electrical parameter such as current or voltage. Biosensor probes are attaining
increasing sophistication because of the fusion of two technologies: microelectronics and
biotechnology. Biosensors provide a useful means for measuring a wide spectrum of analytes (e.g.,
gases, ions, and organic compounds, or even bacteria) and are suitable for studies of complex microbial
environments.

Biological Recognition Elements

The bioactive component could be an enzyme, an antibody, a cell (bacterial and fungal), a
tissue slice, a receptor, nucleic acid, or an organelle. It is used to recognize and interact specifically
with the analyte. Generally, there are two categories
of biosensors, catalytic and affinity:
1. Catalytic biosensors:
In this type of biosensors, biocatalysts such as enzyme, microbiological cells, animal and
plant cells, organelles and tissues are used to recognize, bind, and chemically convert a
molecule identified by the transducer. These biorecognition elements can be used to
analyze substrate, inhibitor, activator, co-factor, and enzyme activity.

2. Affinity biosensors:
In this category the biological element (receptor) binds specifically to the analyte
leading to a complex. The transducer reveals the complex and generates an electronic
signal. Receptor molecule such as antibodies, nucleic acids, lectins, and hormone
receptors are used to bind molecules irreversibly and non-catalytically. Enzymes are the
large protein molecules that act as biological catalysts, i.e., they speed up chemical
reactions at moderate temperature usually acting on a unique substrate or group of
substrates. It is this remarkable specificity that makes enzymatic methods attractive in
sensing devices. Enzymes are normally the preferred choice in catalytic-type biosensor.
However, in many cases the use of enzymes is currently impractical or impossible. The
enzyme may be unstable, may require soluble cofactors, may be difficult to purify, may
not involve a readily detectable species, or the analyte may not be substrate for a specific
enzyme. (Part. IV)

Transducers
The transducing element of a biosensor is used to convert the biological recognition step into
an electrical signal that can be coupled to a microprocessor for control and display. Transducers are
mainly divided into four major categories as summarized in (Part. IV)

II. Advantages and Disadvantages

Immobilization Techniques
An efficient and effective biosensor requires intimate contact between its component parts,
normally achieved by restricting the biomolecule, cell, or organelles to a thin layer on or near the
transducer surface. The processes employed in achieving this restriction are collectively known as
immobilization techniques, defined according to the recommendation of standardization of
nomenclature in enzyme technology as:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Entrapment with a membrane, gel, or microcapsule.

Physical or chemical adsorption.
Cross-linking between molecules.
Covalent bonding to soluble or insoluble supports.

The localization of biological components at the transducer confers several advantages:

1. Enables recovery of the biocomponent without dilution or contamination.

2. Permits continuous or repeated use of the sensor.
3. Maximizes response by concentrating the biocomponent.
4. Often results in improvement of enzyme stability due to increased rigidity (which maximizes
unfolding), a favorable microenvironment, or diffusional effects.

Characteristics of Biosensors

Response Time
Precision and Accuracy
Reproducibility
Lifetime
Stability
Drift Rate
Specificity
Speed
Simplicity
Online Monitoring

III. Reaction
The twenty-first century has been nicknamed as the era of biotechnology. It has grown and
evolved to such an extent over the past few years that increasing numbers of professionals work in
areas directly impacted by it. It has been turned into a high science topic to our everyday
vocabulary over a short period of time. It is quite remarkable to note how different branches of
biotechnology have emerged to have both substantial academic and industrial impact in the not so
distant future. The opportunities become wider and the hopes brighter. Modern biotechnology has
opened up many opportunities in various sectors such as agriculture, food, forestry, waste
treatment, medicine, and pharmaceutical production.
The twenty-first century looks to Biotechnology as the worlds fastest growing and most rapidly
changing technology that can improve the human conditions. Modern biotechnology enables an
organism to produce a totally new product which the organism does not or cannot produce in its normal
course of life.
Various types of biosensing elements, transducers, and immobilization techniques are utilized to
develop biosensors. The diversity of these biosensor components provides opportunity to develop
biosensors for a variety of analytes and thus can be used in diverse applications. The activity and
specificity of biosensing elements make them suitable for analysis of complex solutions with short
response time. Various biosensors are having the capability to be used for online analysis which
enhances the use of biosensors in food and bioprocess industries to optimize production, in medical
field for screening of the potential drug molecules and in environmental field to identify and quantify
the potential pollutants. The efforts are continuously made to develop new biosensors and
commercialize them but still few biosensors are commercially successful and there is a vast scope of
research and development in this sector.
In the current scenario of environmental friendliness, need of sustainable development,
globalization, and fast technological developments, biotechnology which has been used in a
crude manner by mankind since thousands of years, has become quite relevant especially in its
most modern form. Out of the three forms viz. white, red, and green biotechnology, white or
industrial biotechnology has become the technology of the day. The present chapter briefs about
the global and regional drivers of its developments all over the world. With an overview of the
global biotechnology clusters, challenges involved in setting biotechnological companies are
discussed. Finally, the great market potential involved for biotechnological companies has been
highlighted with a suggestion of three groups of companies (http://www.oecd.org/
sti/biotech/44776744.pdf) that can be set up for harnessing the vast potential involved in biotech
products all over the world.
Keeping in view of the estimated 10 billion population of the world by the year 2050 and
humanitys top 10 challenges, biotechnology can be the most appropriate technology to help us in
meeting those demands and facing all the challenges.

IV. Illustrations and Tables

Schematic Diagram of biosensor

Overview of biosensor technology

The important components of biosensor technology and their interaction in the form of flow chart are
represented

Affinity biosensor

Summary of Transducer devices

Immobilization procedure for biosensor construction

Summary of immobilization techniques

V. Bibliography
(2014, September 19).Biosensor and Bioelectronics. Universal Biosensor for Detection of Influenza A
Virus. 59, 239-242. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com

Ravi, I., Baunthiyal, M., Saxena, J. (2014). Advances in Biotechnology. Biosensor 180-207.
India.

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