An electrical conductance-based biosensor that can be used to measure the concentration of biomolecules such as blood sugar, haemoglobin, cholesterol, urine sugar levels, soil urea in agriculture and fat levels in food.
Components of the unit:
separated pair of electrodes located in an electrically inert insulating matrix with an electronically conducting polymer bridge deposited across the electrodes
individual sensor set up with one enzyme/receptor (specific to the biomolecule being measured) that is immobilised in the array
conductance measuring circuit connected to the electrode array
A reference sensor (that is, without the immobilised enzyme) can also be attached which would help to compare biomolecule levels among the samples to be tested. Biosensors constructed in this manner can be integrated into one unit, but are able to sense multiple analytes and give accurate results.
Benefits:
cost effective
compact and portable (.lab-on-a-chip. devices)
allow digitised inputs
outputs are computer compatible for quantitative analysis
enables on-the-spot sample testing
products can be easily enhanced to simultaneously test for several parameters
Inventors: A. Q. Contractor, Department of Chemistry
Patent granted (Application number: 89/BOM/94, grant number: 179848)