ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns how it is possible to meet this challenge and revolutionise the face of rapid testing and analysis in all walks of human activities. Immobilisation techniques used in biotechnology are fairly well known; covalent attachment and physical entrapment have so far had the greatest impact on biosensor construction. The Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry has recognised this as a critical area in its drive to support commercial biosensor development, establishing a Biomembrane Project at Ibaraki to develop membranes for biosensors. Benchtop biosensors of the electrochemical variety are used now in clinical biochemistry laboratories for measuring glucose and lactic acid; the Yellow Springs glucose analyser has already been mentioned in this context. Environmental water monitoring is an area in which whole cell biosensors may have substantial advantages for combating the increasing number of pollutants finding their way into the groundwater systems and hence into drinking water.
