Electrochemical biosensors

Biosensors represent promising applications in different fields, such as clinical diagnosis, pharma, process control, food industry and environmental monitoring, where, fast and reliable analysis is necessary. They use different forms of transduction, like electrochemical, electrical, optical, piezoelectric or by thermal means. Because of the low cost, ease of use, low detection limits, portability, very small sample volumes, and simplicity of construction, electrochemical sensors are of more interest. Recently, electrochemical biosensors in the forms of wearable and Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC) devices are considered to be useful. Electrochemical LOC biosensors provide rapid and on-site results in different fields, like medical diagnostics and food safety. The sample preparation, separation and a detection system are the most important properties that are integrated into analytical LOC systems invovled. Wearable biosensors provide continuous and real-time physiological information via noninvasive, dynamic monitoring of biochemical markers in biofluids such as saliva, tears, sweat, and interstitial fluids. This chapter introduces biosensors and their different types. Among all kinds of biosensors and due to the wide usage of electrochemical biosensors, we will go into more detail about materials, methods, and their utility in health care, especially in the diagnosis of cardiac, cancer, and infectious diseases. Finally, electrochemical sensors with wearable and LOC devices are also discussed.