The use of insect chemoreceptors for the assembly of biosensors based on semiconductor field-effect transistors

The extraordinary sensing abilities of insects have been well-known for man y years. The use of their sensitive organs;in biosensors is of great intere st. This article describes both the signal-generating process inside the se nsing organs and how to measure these signals in terms of technical sensing principles. Especially, EAG techniques and a novel BioFET (coupling betwee n an insect antenna and a field-effect transistor) set-up are covered in de tail. Possible applications of biosensors based on intact chemoreceptors ar e given and possible future developments in this area are discussed.