Impedimetric Biosensors for Medical Applications Current Progress and Challenges

In this monograph, the authors discuss the current progress in the medical application of impedimetric biosensors, along with the key challenges in the field. First, a general overview of biosensor development, structure and function is presented, followed by a detailed discussion of impedimetric biosensors and the principles of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Next, the current state-of-the art in terms of the science and technology underpinning impedance-based biosensors is reviewed in detail. The layer-by-layer construction of impedimetric sensors is described, including the design of electrodes, their nano-modification, transducer surface functionalization and the attachment of different bioreceptors. The current challenges of translating lab-based biosensor platforms into commercially-available devices that function with real patient samples at the POC are presented; this includes a consideration of systems integration, microfluidics and biosensor regeneration. The final section of this monograph describes case studies of successful impedance-based biosensors for the detection of a range of analytes from small molecules up to whole microorganisms. Finally, the authors put forward future perspectives for the clinical applications of impedimetric biosensors.

Jo received her BSc in Biochemistry in 2005 and her Wellcome Trust-funded PhD in 2012 from the University of Leeds. Jo also carried out research projects at the Sainsbury Laboratory (Norwich, UK) and the Université de Paris-Sud (France). In between her degree and PhD, Jo was a high-school Chemistry teacher. Jo studied the molecular and structural biology of amyloid- beta oligomers, a causative agent of Alzheimer's disease, during her PhD. She is now integrating her Alzheimer's research background with her interest in electrochemical biosensors to develop impedimetric sensors for the specific detection of biologically-relevant amyloid-beta oligomers.