Anthony Turner

Biosensors : Fundamentals and Applications

This truly interdisciplinary work is the first substantial and comprehensive book to describe the biosensor, an important new technology combining the specificity and sensitivity of biological syst ...

Glucose oxidase: an ideal enzyme

The properties of glucose oxidase (GOD) are described in relation to the widespread use of this enzyme in biosensors, The shortcomings of other enzymes that oxidize glucose are indicated. Isolation ...

Tutorial Review : Biosensors: sense and sensibility

This review is based on the Theophilus Redwood Medal and Award lectures, delivered to Royal Society of Chemistry meetings in the UK and Ireland in 2012, and presents a personal overview of the field of biosensors. The biosensors industry is now worth billions of United States dollars, the topic attracts the attention of national initiatives across the world and tens of thousands of papers have been published in the area. This plethora of information is condensed into a concise account of the key achievements to date. The reasons for success are examined, some of the more exciting emerging technologies are highlighted and the author speculates on the importance of biosensors as a ubiquitous technology of the future for health and the maintenance of wellbeing.

Carbon and gold electrodes as electrochemical transducers for DNA hybridisation sensors

Genosensor technology relying on the use of carbon and gold electrodes is reviewed. The key steps of each analytical procedure, namely DNA-probe immobilisation, hybridisation, labelling and electrochemical investigation of the surface, are discussed in detail with separate sections devoted to label-free and newly emerging magnetic assays. Special emphasis has been given to protocols that have been used with real DNA samples.

Surface plasmon resonance imaging for affinity-based biosensors

SPR imaging (SPRi) is at the forefront of optical label-free and real-time detection. It offers the possibility of monitoring hundreds of biological interactions simultaneously and from the binding profiles, allows the estimation of the kinetic parameters of the interactions between the immobilised probes and the ligands in solution. We review the current state of development of SPRi technology and its application including commercially available SPRi instruments. Attention is also given to surface chemistries for biochip functionalisation and suitable approaches to improve sensitivity.

Diabetes mellitus: biosensors for research and management.

The condition of diabetes mellitus is described with particular reference to the parameters that it would be desirable to monitor in order to improve management and understanding of the disease. Previous attention has largely focused on analysis of glucose, but many other intermediates of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism are deranged in diabetes and may be alternative measures of control. The need for laboratory analysers, self-monitoring, closed-loop devices and alarms are detailed and the problems associated with implantable sensors discussed. Progress in the development of biosensors is reviewed using glucose sensors as the main example. Electrochemical, optoelectronic and calorimetric approaches to sensing are considered and it is concluded that configurations based either on hydrogen peroxide detection or on mediated electron transfer are most likely to provide a raid route to in vivo monitoring. The extension of biosensor technology to tackle other important substrates is discussed, the principal hurdle to success being seen as the lack of long-term stability of the biological component.

Electronic noses and disease diagnostics

Rapid developments in sensor technology have facilitated the production of devices — known as electronic noses — that can detect and discriminate the production profiles of volatile compounds from microbial infections in situ. Such qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches could have a significant role in the early diagnosis and detection of microbial diseases. Using artificial intelligence and web-based knowledge systems, electronic noses might also have a valuable role in monitoring disease epidemiology.

Electrochemical sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers

Over the past two decades, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have attracted broad interest from scientists engaged in sensor development. This attention can be explained by the serious potentia ...

Advances in the manufacture of MIP nanoparticles

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are prepared by creating a three-dimensional polymeric matrix around a template molecule. After the matrix is removed, complementary cavities with respect to shape and functional groups remain. MIPs have been produced for applications in in vitro diagnostics, therapeutics and separations. However, this promising technology still lacks widespread application because of issues related to large-scale production and optimization of the synthesis. Recent developments in the area of MIP nanoparticles might offer solutions to several problems associated with performance and application. This review discusses various approaches used in the preparation of MIP nanoparticles, focusing in particular on the issues associated with large-scale manufacture and implications for the performance of synthesized nanomaterials.

Development of an On-line Glucose Sensor for Fermentation Monitoring

Abstract A dimethylferrocene-mediated enzyme electrode for glucose (Cass et al., 1984) was evaluated for application to microbial fermentation monitoring and control. The deficiencies revealed - insufficient stability, progressive increase in response time and progressive decrease in linear range - were investigated using electrochemical and radiochemical techniques. The enzyme immobilization was improved with a novel procedure using periodate-oxidized glucose oxidase and an alky lamine electrode coating. An in-situ probe and a computer-controlled analytical system were developed for fermentation monitoring. The glucose concentration of an Escherichia coli batch culture was successfully monitored on line using this analytical system.