Immunosensors: Using antibodies to develop biosensors for detecting pathogens and their toxins

Abstract

Fast, reliable, and low-cost methods for the screening of pathogens are paramount in areas such as environment, the food industry, healthcare, and defense. The word pathogen defines any disease-producing agent. With the constant progress of scientific knowledge, a fast diversification of the detection techniques is occurring, brought about by the appearance of imaginative new concepts within the scientific community. Biosensors are a perfect example of the combination of multidisciplinary knowledge. They encompass many fundamental, technological, and scientific advances in biology, chemistry, and physics. This chapter includes an overview of different types of antibodies and labels used as recognition elements for the elaboration of immunosensors. The most common ways to immobilize Ab on a transducer surface will be described and a description of some of the most popular transducing techniques will be given.