Nanostructures for Biosensing : From Sensing Principles to Applications

by Martin-Palma, Raul J.; Allara, David L.; O'Brien, Paul; Craighead, Harold

• ISBN13: 9780854041978
• ISBN10: 0854041974
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-03-31
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Summary

There is an increasing demand for highly sensitive, reliable, rapid and inexpensive biosensors. These have applications in many different fields including medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy, environmental studies, food science, and agriculture. This is the only book to provide an up-to-date, coherent review of biosensors based on nanostructured materials. It starts by covering the fundamental principles of nanostructures, together with functionalization and immobilization techniques, before going on to describe the practical aspects of biosensors such as sensing principles, performance and materials. Particular attention is paid to how biosensor performance is influenced by the nanostructured nature of materials and the advantages and disadvantages of using nanometer-scale sensors and transducers. Finally, the many different applications of biosensors are presented and future prospects are discussed. Many books on the market are based just on electrochemical principles but Nanostructures for Biosensing covers solid state, optical, gravimetric and electrochemical devices, thus providing a comprehensive view of the field. The chapters on semiconductor nanostructures; metal and metallic oxide nanoparticles; fullerene-based sensors; magnetic nanoparticles; nanomechanical biosensors, and applications are of particular importance. The book takes a non-mathematical, descriptive approach, thus allowing readers from such diverse fields as biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering to benefit. As a general review, it is suitable for researchers, professors, consultants and students with no previous knowledge of the subject.