Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring

Marked progress has been made in the last decade towards the application of conducting polymers to biosensors. In this context, the researchers working in this field of research 

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Novel biointerfaces of dendrimers with heme proteins have been reported. Such studies have helped to accomplish direct electron transfer between the biomolecule and electrode. Several attempts have been made to widen the scope of the dendrimer-based electrochemical biosensors for environmental monitoring. Analytes like glutamate, ethanol and several pesticides have been detected. Exclusive studies to detect hydrogen peroxide at dendrimer-modified electrodes have also been made. 

Chemical sensors and biosensors for environmental monitoring present an interesting alternative to these conventional methods and offer numerous attractive features such as ease of use, low cost, portability, and the abihty to perform detection in the field [12-16]. Optical biosensors based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) show potential for rapid and sensitive detection of chemical and biological contaminants in the environment. SPR sensors provide a generic platform which, in conjunction with appropriate biorecognition elements, can be tailored for detection of numerous compounds related to environmental protection [17-19]. 

Because of the great diversity of biosensors for environmental monitoring, in this chapter it is only possible to focus on a single application the detection of pesticides in water. Three different principles are described with three different biological materials and transducers. 

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