IMMUNOSENSORS - ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSING AND OTHER ENGINEERING APPROACHES

This article overviews the engineering approaches and the recent trend s in the development of alternative immunoassay systems. A brief descr iption of the main principles and limitations of conventional immunoas say is given. Immunosensing approaches overcoming these limitations ar e discussed. Alternatives to traditional immunoassay systems are discu ssed in terms of the enhancement of immunointeraction processes and in terms of the various detection principles. Applications of flow-injec tion techniques to the development of immunosensing systems are presen ted. Immunosensors are categorized based on the detection principle em ployed, as immunoelectrodes (electrochemical immunosensors), piezoelec tric immunosensors, or as sensors based on optical detection of the im munointeraction. The discussion focuses on electrochemical immunosenso rs. In conclusion, the engineering issues involved in immunosensor dev elopment are outlined and trends towards practical applications are di scussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited.