Electrochemical Biosensors: Recommended Definitions and Classification
Issue Date
1999Author
Wilson, George S.
Thévenot, Daniel R.
Toth, Klara
Durst, Richard A.
Publisher
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Published Version
http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/pdf/1999/pdf/7112x2333.pdfMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Two Divisions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC),
namely Physical Chemistry (Commission I.7 on Biophysical Chemistry, formerly Steering
Committee on Biophysical Chemistry) and Analytical Chemistry (Commission V.5 on
Electroanalytical Chemistry), have prepared recommendations on the definition, classification
and nomenclature related to electrochemical biosensors; these recommendations could, in the
future, be extended to other types of biosensors.
An electrochemical biosensor is a self-contained integrated device, which is capable of
providing specific quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information using a biological
recognition element (biochemical receptor) which is retained in direct spatial contact
with an electrochemical transduction element. Because of their ability to be repeatedly
calibrated, we recommend that a biosensor should be clearly distinguished from a bioanalytical system, which requires additional processing steps, such as reagent addition. A device which is
both disposable after one measurement, i.e. single use, and unable to monitor the analyte
concentration continuously or after rapid and reproducible regeneration should be designated a
single-use biosensor.
Biosensors may be classified according to the biological specificity-conferring mechanism
or, alternatively, the mode of physicochemical signal transduction. The biological recognition
element may be based on a chemical reaction catalysed by, or on an equilibrium reaction with,
macromolecules that have been isolated, engineered or present in their original biological
environment. In the latter case, equilibrium is generally reached and there is no further, if any,
net consumption of analyte(s) by the immobilized biocomplexing agent incorporated into the
sensor. Biosensors may be further classified according to the analytes or reactions that they
monitor: direct monitoring of analyte concentration or of reactions producing or consuming
such analytes; alternatively, an indirect monitoring of inhibitor or activator of the biological
recognition element (biochemical receptor) may be achieved.
A rapid proliferation of biosensors and their diversity has led to a lack of rigour in defining
their performance criteria. Although each biosensor can only truly be evaluated for a
particular application, it is still useful to examine how standard protocols for performance
criteria may be defined in accordance with standard IUPAC protocols or definitions. These
criteria are recommended for authors, referees and educators and include calibration
characteristics (sensitivity, operational and linear concentration range, detection and quantitative
determination limits), selectivity, steady-state and transient response times, sample
throughput, reproducibility, stability and lifetime.
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Citation
D.R. Thévenot, K. Toth, R.A. Durst and G.S. Wilson, Electrochemical Biosensors:Recommended Definitions and Classification, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 71, 2333-234, (1999).
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