Sensor and biosensor definition. Immobilization techniques of enzymes, antibodies, oligonucleotides. Electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric techniques of transduction. Biosensors application in medicine (glycaemia and biomarkers detection), for the environment (toxicity, pesticides) and for foods (food quality).
Turner, A.P.F., Karube, I. and Wilson, G.S. (1989) Biosensors: Fundamentals and Applications. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Learning Objectives
The course supplies to the student thorough knowledge of the theory and the principles of sensors and biosensors. Selected topics of the sensors and biosensors will held.
This course will give students an overview of sensors and biosensors. The student will know the sensors and biosensors commercial available and which are present in important research projects.
Prerequisites
Courses required: none
Teaching Methods
Lectures
Type of Assessment
Oral test and a presentation on topic covered in the course.
Course program
Introduction to sensor and biosensor. Electrochemical transducer: potentiometric, amperometric and voltammetric sensors. Sensor FET. Acoustic sensors. Optical transducer: optical fibres, absorbance, Surface Plasmon Resonance. Affinity and catalytic biosensors. Immobilization techniques of enzymes, antibodies, oligonucleotides. Biosensors in health care: glycaemia, biomarkers detection. DNA biosensors for genetic disease diagnosis. Microarray. Environmental biosensors. BOD measurement. Biosensors for the detection of toxicity, pesticides, herbicides. Heavy metals analysis. Biosensor for food analysis ( food quality, GMO and toxins detection.