BIOSENSORS BASED ON PLANT AND ANIMAL-TISSUES

A biosensor is defined as a device that incorporates a biological comp onent which is either intimately connected to or integrated within a t ransducer. Biocatalysts, such as specialized tissues from higher anima ls and plants, have been incorporated into various electrochemical tra nsducers to construct biosensors for the detection of important analyt es. The receptor-based biosensors utilize isolated receptors or whole intact receptor organisms as molecular recognition elements for the de tection of various important analytes including drugs, hormones, toxic ants, neurotransmitters and amino acids. The immobilization of isolate d receptors on transducers such as ISFETs, 'electric capacitors and op tical fibers for biosensing has been given significant consideration r ecently. Intact chemoreceptor-based biosensors, in particular, offer s everal advantages including extremely short response time, a high degr ee of sensitivity, a wide range of linear response and inherent select ivity. This review highlights some of the recent advances in plant and animal tissue-based biosensors, with emphasis on historical developme nts.