Advantages of Biosensors | Disadvantages of Biosensors
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Biosensors and its basics. It mentions benefits or advantages of Biosensors and drawbacks or disadvantages of Biosensors.
Introduction: As we know biotechnology domain is progressing and there is huge demand for on-site, rapid and point-of-care testing in various fields. This includes healthcare, food safety, environmental monitoring and biosecurity. Advancements in microfabrication and miniaturization technologies such as microelectronics, nanotechnology and microfluids have led to the development of biosensors. Moreover different sensing and transduction methods such as electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric and magnetic techniques offer diverse options for the development of different types of biosensors.
What are Biosensors ?
A biosensor consists of two main components in its design viz. bioreceptor and transducer. A bioreceptor is a biomolecule which recognizes target analyte. Transducer is a component which converts recognition event into measurable signal. Both of these components are integrated on single sensor design. Biosensors are used in various fields such as healthcare, food safety, military, security, diagnostics, environmental monitoring etc.
There are different types of biosensors based on transduction mechanism such as conventional transducer,
piezoelectric transducer, conductimetric transducer, enzyme thermistor, capacitive etc.
Refer Biosensor article >> for basics and types of biosensors.
Benefits or advantages of Biosensors
Following are generic benefits or advantages of Biosensors.
The benefits may vary based on specific biosensor technology, biosensor types, their applications and implementation methodologies.
➨Biosensors offer high sensitivity which enables detection and quantification of low concentrations of
analytes or subtle changes in biomolecular interactions.
➨Biosensors offer high selectivity so that it can detect and measure desired target analytes while
minimizing interference from other components in the test and measurement of complex samples.
➨Biosensors offer rapid response times which allows quick and real time
measurements of biological processes or analytes.
➨They are designed to be portable and compact in size. This makes them suitable for wearable devices, on-site
testing and on spot diagnostics.
➨Some biosensors allow simultaneous detection of multiple analytes which enables parallel analysis in single measurement.
➨Biosensors require small amount of volume for testing compare to traditional lab techniques.
This reduces the need for large amount of sample collection and minimizes waste.
➨Biosensor platforms can be adapted to detect wide range of analytes which include small molecules, nucleic acids,
proteins, cells etc. This makes them versatile for various applications.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Biosensors
Following are limitations or drawbacks or disadvantages of Biosensors. The researchers and companies are continuously
working to address these limitations to improve biosensor performance, reliability and its usability for
various applications.
➨Biosensors measurement are susceptible to interference or matrix effects caused by components present in the complex samples under testing.
This affects their accuracy and specificity.
➨Biosensor performance can be affected due to environmental factors such as temperature, pH,
humidity or ElectroMagnetic (EM) fields which requires careful compensation.
➨Some biosensors have limited life span due to device degradation, sensor drift and requirement of component replacements.
➨Biosensors require regular calibration and monitoring to maintain accuracy and stability over time.
➨Some biosensors are expensive as they require specialized equipments, materials or expertise for their development and maintenance.