Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Recently, He
et al.
[79] developed a label-free amperometric immuno-
sensor based on the electro-deposition of GNPs over PB i lm. In this way,
HB antibody was immobilized onto a modii ed sensor (GCE/PB/GNPs)
surface. Under optimal conditions the peak current response was inversely
proportional to the HB antigen concentration. Current changes were pro-
portional to HB antigen concentration ranging from 2 to 300 ng mL
-1
with
a detection limit of 0.4 ng mL
-1
. Finally, the authors measured and com-
pared 50 clinical samples; their results were in good agreement with those
using ELISA as a reference method.
12.6 Conclusions
In the present chapter we discussed the main advantages of biosensors in
biomedical applications. Numerous benei ts are driving the replacement by
biosensors of other conventional, more sophisticated, analytical methods.
Nowadays, biosensors are focused to Point of Care applications, glucose
biosensors being the best example due to the
serious global problem of
diabetes. However, great ef orts are being made with a wide range of other
illnesses and, in this context, PB and its analogues are promising materi-
als due to their electrocatalytic properties. Among dif erent approaches,
oxidase-based biosensors are still preferred, and PB is an excellent material
for use in the fabrication of biosensors because it acts as an “artii cial per-
oxidase”. Together with the facile modii cation of the electrode substrate
and the low cost of production, this has led to an on-going replacement of
the common enzymatic detection method - horseradish peroxidase (HRP)
- which is more expensive and complicated than PB-modii ed substrates.
In addition, over recent years, new applications have appeared in the form
of immunosensors, with an important and new creative concept. In this
way, novel hybrid coni gurations have appeared, using PB and analogues as
well as other modern materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, mag-
netic beads, gold nanoparticles,
etc
. Based on these results, it is clear that
during the next decades, PB and its analogues will have important roles in
the future development of biomedical devices for health care.
Acknowledgment
h e funds for the development of this contribution have been provided by
subprograma INNCORPORA TU (INC-TU-2011-1621) from Ministerio
de Economía y Competitividad, Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio
