Electrochemical biosensors combine the sensitivity of electro-analytical methods with the inherent bio-selectivity of the biological component. The biological component in the sensor recognizes its analyte resulting in a catalytic or binding event that ultimately produces an electrical signal monitored by a transducer that is proportional to analyte concentration. Some of these sensor devices have reached the commercial stage and are routinely used in clinical, environmental, industrial, and agricultural applications. The two classes of electrochemical biosensors, bio-catalytic devices and affinity sensors, will be discussed in this critical review to provide an accessible introduction to electrochemical biosensors for any scientist. Sensors are devices that register a physical, chemical, or biological change and convert that into a measurable signal. The sensor contains a recognition element that enables the selective response to a particular analyte or a group of analytes, thus minimizing interferences from other sample components. Another main component of a sensor is the transducer or the detector device that produces a signal. A signal processor collects, amplifies, and displays the signal. Electrochemical biosensors, a subclass of chemical sensors, combine the sensitivity, as indicated by low detection limits, of electrochemical transducers with the high specificity of biological recognition processes. These devices contain a biological recognition element (enzymes, proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, cells, tissues or receptors) that selectively reacts with the target analyte and produces an electrical signal that is related to the concentration of the analyte being studied. Electrochemical biosensors can be divided into two main categories based on the nature of the biological recognition process i.e. biocatalytic devices and affinity sensors. Biocatalytic devices incorporate enzymes, whole cells or tissue slices that recognize the target analyte and produce electroactive species. Special emphasis will be placed on enzyme electrodes for the detection of glucose, lactose, and xanthine. Affinity sensors rely on a selective binding interaction between the analyte and a biological component such as an antibody, nucleic acid, or a receptor. Immunosensors and DNA hybridization biosensors with electrochemical detection will be discussed as examples of affinity sensors.

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Journal of Industrial Electronics and Applications
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