Antibody-based
Antibody-based biosensors are devices that utilize antibodies as the recognition elements to detect and quantify specific analytes. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances, known as antigens. They have high specificity and affinity for their target antigens, making them ideal recognition molecules for biosensing applications.
The basic structure of an antibody-based biosensor typically consists of an immobilized antibody layer on a solid support, such as a sensor surface or a nanoparticle. When the target analyte is present in a sample, it binds to the immobilized antibody, forming an antigen-antibody complex. The formation of this complex triggers a measurable signal that can be detected and quantified.
Antibody-based biosensors can be designed using various transduction techniques, including optical, electrochemical, or surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods. Optical biosensors use changes in light properties, such as absorbance, fluorescence, or reflectance, to detect the formation of the antigen-antibody complex. Electrochemical biosensors measure changes in electrical current or potential resulting from the binding event. SPR biosensors monitor changes in the refractive index near the sensor surface due to binding interactions.
These biosensors have a wide range of applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, and pharmaceutical development. They can detect a variety of analytes, including proteins, small molecules, toxins, and pathogens. Antibody-based biosensors offer advantages such as high sensitivity, specificity, and the ability to detect low concentrations of analytes.
Additionally, advances in antibody engineering, such as the use of recombinant antibodies or antibody fragments, have further improved the performance and versatility of antibody-based biosensors. These biosensors play a crucial role in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and the development of therapeutics, enabling rapid and accurate detection of analytes in complex samples.
