BioDot Logo
 
  BioDot ApplicationsBioDot TechnologiesBioDot ProductsBioDot Resource CenterBioDot News and EventsContact BioDot  
 
 
BIOSENSOR
BioSensor
 
     
     
 
INTRODUCTION

Overview of biosensor manufacturing process:
A biosensor incorporates a biological sensing element, such as an enzyme, antibody, antigen, nucleic acid etc. which is associated with a physiochemical transducer. When an analyte is presented to the transducer, a chemical reaction takes place that provides an electrical signal that is proportional to the concentration of the analyte. The process requires:

  1. The base electrode - Typically the base is made from plastic. A number of elements can be printed onto the plastic, including:
  • Carbon/graphite mix
  • Conductors
  • Reference electrode
  • Insulators/dielectrics
    1. The biological sensing element is then applied to the transducer. The printing process (e.g. screen printing) is unsuitable for most biological materials, particularly when high temperatures used to cure the printed electrodes. An alternative is to dispense the material dissolved or suspended in buffer. BioDot's range of Aspirate and Dispense (AD series) systems uses its proprietary BioJet™ non-contact technology to deliver "on the fly" dispensing. The drop-on-demand technology allows quantitative dispensing from 20 nL to 4 µL in a given drop.
      Often, the researcher will need to experiment with a wide range of variables when developing a biosensor. These include:
      • Changing drop volume while maintaning low CVs
      • Adjusting drop chemistries
      • Adjusting drop spacing or pitch
      • Applying multiple analytes
      • Addition of polymers forming networks that favor accessibility of analyte or exclude filtration contaminants.

      The BioJet Plus system combines high precision dispensing (typically less than 3% at 1 µL, 5% at 100 nL), with accurate XYZ stage movement (+/- 10 µm in X and Y). Its ability to aspirate and dispense, coupled with high level of control of the drop-on-demand volumes, allow combinatorial approaches to sensor development.

      From a manufacturing viewpoint, BioDot offers a wide range of platforms with the BioJet Plus technology to allow researchers to scale-up their ideas from bench, through pilot production onto full manufacturing with a minimum of process development issues. On-the-fly dispensing allows extremely high manufacturing output with a typical card of 250 sensors being dispensed in less than 30 seconds.

    1. The process continues to where the individual sensors need to be cut from the cards. BioDot offers both rotary and guillotine cutters with a variety of blade options to suit the researcher's specific material. Furthermore, the cutting systems can incorporate magazine card feed and bottle collection to automate the manufacturing process.
    In its simplest definition, a biosensor is a device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological component with a physicochemical detector component. Biosensors typically use with printed circuits, surface acoustic wave (SAW) or other acoustic elements and incorporate electronics or signal processors (readers) that are primarily responsible for the display of the results in a user-friendly way. Despite its long history in diagnostics, the glucose biosensor is still the most prevalent biosensor in the marketplace today. Moreover, the demand for glucose monitoring can be expected to increase. At the time of writing, the estimated diabetic population in the United States is approximately 20 million persons, with only 66% of those diagnosed and receiving treatment. In addition to conventional medical sensors, pharmaceutical research is promoting development of new rapid assay biosensors to speed drug discovery. Military and security applications are driving new rapid detection biosensors against bio-warfare agents. Biosensor formats have been used in food safety, environmental monitoring, and in both hospital and public sanitation. Environmental monitoring includes long standing applications for waste water, and also detectors for industrial gases and particulates. 
     
    © 2006 BioDot Inc
    Home  |  BioChip  |  BioSensor  |  Lateral Flow  |  Technologies  |  Products  |  Resource Center  |  News and Events  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map