Analytic biosensors for environmental monitoring: definition, comparison with other analytical methods, future considerations for the use of biosensors in an environmental context

Summary

Since the first biosensor was designed to measure blood sugar levels, many other biosensors have been successfully developed in the medical and agri-food sectors. As far as the environment is concerned, there are many potential applications and needs, but how far have developments really got? The analysis confirms that research on these subjects is very dynamic worldwide, but that there has been little success in terms of industrial transfer leading to commercialisation. However, the rapid development of the technologies involved in the design of biosensors and societal demand for environmental monitoring can only be favourable to the growth of this technology. Based on a review of the international literature, supplemented by feedback from experience in France and around the world, this work presents the subject in a highly educational way, assessing the level of maturity of these tools and their complementarity with physico-chemical measurements.

NB: analytical biosensor: system capable of taking a measurement via a biological element constituting a 'receptor'. This receiver then emits a signal which is converted into a quantitative or semi-quantitative measurement.