Isabela Rincón Cala

U00117753

Biophysics

In Class Activity

1. Make a diagram with a description and classification of biosensors.

2. Which is the classification characteristic of biosensors in the document?

The classification characteristic it’s the operating principle of each particular biosensor, what it
uses to do the recognition.

3. Describe each type of sensor with a short statement

• Resonant: acoustic wave transducer is coupled with an antibody, when the antigen
attaches to the membrane, the mass of the membrane changes and makes the resonant
frequency vary.

• Optical: used to detect bacteria, as it catches changes in the refractive index of cells when
they attach to the transducer surface.

o Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): uses thin gold film as a surface where analytes
flow over and as they pass their reflection is tracked by photo-detecting array of
sensors.

o Piezoelectric: the surface of the sensor is coated in a binding surface and then
places it in a solution with bacteria, which bind to the antibodies on the sensors
and increase its resonance frequency.

• Thermal: is a combination of immobilized enzyme molecules with temperature sensors.

When the analyte reaches the enzyme, its heat reaction is measured and calibrated
against the analyte concentration.

• Electrochemical: used for detecting hybridized DNA, DNA-binding drugs, among others.
They are classified based on the measuring electrical parameter.

o Conductimetric: its measure parameter is electrical conductance/resistance of the

solution, as electrochemical reactions change the overall conductivity of a
solution.

o Amperometric: detects electroactive species as it produces current proportional

to the concentration of the detected substance.

o Potentiometric: measures oxidation or reduction potential of an electrochemical

reaction, as when voltage is applied to a solution, a current flow occurs which
indicates a particular reaction and species.
 • Bioluminescence: the bacteria luminescence lux is used by a promoter regulated by the
concentration of a compound of interest. That concentration can be analyzed by detecting
the bioluminescence intensity.

• Nano biosensor: based on nanotechnology, uses silver and other noble metal
nanoparticles and have application in biolabeling, drug delivery system, filters and
antimicrobial drug sensors.

4. Synthesize microbial biosensors, it meaning and use

Microbial biosensors are a type of sensor which relies on microbes for is biological material
instead of purified enzymes. Viable microbes metabolize various compounds, which can be
monitored using a wide variety of transducers, they are mainly used when the overall substrate
assimilation capacity of a specific microorganism is taken as an index for respiratory metabolic
activity. They can also be used when metabolic related nutrients are involved, or when the
inhibition of microbial respiration by the analyte of interest is involved. Its major application is the
detection of harmful bacteria or pesticides in the environment.

5. Describe the relation between biosensor and cancer

Biosensors can be used to detect pathogens and diagnose and monitor cancer, it could be a great
instrument in hand for early detection and more effective treatments. By measuring certain
proteins secreted by tumor cells, biosensors can detect whether a tumor is present and if it is
benign or malignant. It can also recognize if the actual treatment has been effective in reducing or
eliminating the cancerous cells.

6. How pathogens are detected via biosensing?

By DNA analysis and counting bacteria and antigen-antibody reactions, polymerase chain
reaction, culture and colony counting as well as immunology based methods account for pathogen
detection. Biosensor that contain enzymes are used for labeling antibodies or DNA probes.
Antibodies used in biosensing can also detect pathogens.