ABSTRACT
Biosensors are attracting the attention of many investigators in the field of biotechnology related research. A biosensor is a device that combines the specificity of a biomaterial (enzymes, antibodies, receptors or even whole cells) with the sensitive and well established bioassays. Biosensors are of potential use in many fields including clinical and biotechnology monitoring. An important class of enzymes results in H2O2 production, after the reaction with a suitable substrate, and O2 is consumed. Either H2O2 generation or O2 depletion can be monitored to follow the enzymatic reaction and thus determine the substrate level. Other enzyme systems, like urease and penicillinase, result in a pH change which can be followed using a pH sensitive device. For the many advantages of fiber optic sensing, extensive research efforts have been devoted for the production of reliable, self-contained and sensitive fiber optic biosensors which are capable of in situ monitoring. An overview of the possibilities and challenges associated with the construction of such sensors are discussed.
