Potentiometric biosensor systems, example

Electrochemical biosensors have some advantages over other analytical transducing systems, such as the possibility to operate in turbid media, comparable instrumental sensitivity, and possibility of miniaturization. As a consequence of miniaturization, small sample volume can be required. Modern electroanalytical techniques (i.e., square wave voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, differential pulse voltammetry) have very low detection limit (1(T7-10 9 M). In-situ or on-line measurements are both allowed. Furthermore, the equipments required for electrochemical analysis are simple and cheap when compared with most other analytical techniques (2). Basically electrochemical biosensor can be based on amperometric and potentiometric transducers, even if some examples of conductimetric as well as impedimetric biosensor are reported in literature (3-5). 

Micromachined and microfabricated electrochemical sensors have been used either per se, or as part of a sensor system, in many practical applications. This includes various biosensors and chemical sensors reported in research literature. An example of a practical electrochemical sensor is the yttria-stabilized zirconium dioxide potentiometric oxygen sensor used for fuel-air control in the automotive industry. Thick-film metallization is used in the manufacture of this sensor. Even though the sensor is not microsize, this solid electrolyte oxygen sensor has proven to be reliable in a relatively hostile environment. It is reasonable to anticipate that a smaller sensor based on the same potentiometric or the voltammetric principle can be developed using advanced microfabrication and micromachining techniques. 

Biosensors are measuring devices that produce a signal in proportion to the concentration of a defined group of substances through a suitable combination of a selective biological system (e.g., enzyme, antibody, membrane, organelle, cell or tissue) and a physical transmission device (e.g., potentiometric or ampero-metric electrode, optical or optoelectronic receiver). Examples include ... 

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