FIBER OPTIC SENSORS - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Biosensors are attracting the attention of many investigators in the field of biotechnology related research. A biosensor is a device that combines the specificity of a biomaterial (enzymes, antibodies, receptors or even whole cells) with sensitive, well established bioassays. Biosensors are of potential use in many fields including clinical and biotechnology monitoring. An important class of enzymes, effecting H2O2 generation or O2 depletion, can be monitored by following the enzymatic reaction, and thus determining the substrate level. Other enzyme systems, like urease and penicillinase, result in a pH change which can be followed using a pH sensitive device. For the many advantages of fiber optic sensing, extensive research efforts have been devoted to the production of reliable, self-contained and sensitive fiberoptic biosensors which are capable of in situmonitoring. An overview of the possibilities and challenges associated wit h the construction of such sensors are discussed. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.