Biosensor, simply defined, is a detection instrument that converts the concentration of biologically sensitive substances into electrical signals. These biologically sensitive substances include enzymes, antibodies, antigens, microorganisms, cells, tissues, nucleic acids and other biologically active substances. Usually, appropriate physical and chemical transducers are required to convert into electrical signals, such as oxygen electrodes, photosensitive transistors, field effect transistors, piezoelectric crystals, etc. At the same time, a device for amplifying the signal and corresponding analysis tools and systems are also required. All these elements combine to become a standardized biosensor.

 

The application range of biosensors has been involved in medical diagnosis, food toxicity detection, agricultural detection, industrial process control and environmental pollution control. Among them, medical diagnosis is the most popular application field at present, and point-of-care detection in medical diagnosis is the field with the most applications of biosensors.

 

According to a report released by the world-renowned market research company pmr in 2014, the market value of the biosensor market in 2014 was US$12.9 billion, and it is expected to reach US$22.5 billion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.7. Among them, North America is the largest market for biosensors in the world, with a market value of $5.7 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach $9.5 billion by 2020. Asia Pacific will be the fastest growing region due to expanding health insurance penetration, large population base, and continuous upgrading of health care systems.

 

At present, large foreign companies have already deployed in this industry, including Abbott, Siemens Medical, novabiomedical, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Roche and other companies participating in the global biosensor market. Domestic companies have fallen behind a lot in the research and development of biosensors. Perhaps at the service application level, they can achieve "overtaking on curves" through the promotion of the Internet industry.

 

At a meeting held by the American Chemical Society many years ago, scientists once demonstrated the application scenarios of DNA sensors. This DNA sensor, also known as a gene sensor, is a type of biosensor, a sensing device that converts the presence of target DNA into a detectable electrical signal. This sensitive, fast, and accurate sensor is ideal for medical testing, including detection of infectious diseases, genetic diseases, and malignancies. Driven by the development of nanomembrane technology, the application of DNA sensors in "instant detection" will become more and more extensive.

 

Cross-border applications have been realized

 

Last year, the well-known American fashion brand ralphlauren and the Canadian start-up omsignal cooperated to develop a smart short-sleeved shirt with biosensors. This kind of smart clothing can collect the user's movement and direction data through biosensors and mobile technology, upload the data to the cloud for analysis and processing, and finally realize the visual information statistics of the user through the mobile app.

 

At present, with the popularity of wearable device products in the consumer market, the cross-border application of biosensors will promote consumers to slowly accept the "invasion" of more wearable products.

 

The cross-border application of sensors and the need for biosensors can be seamlessly cut in, which will be the future trend. The author predicts that the trend of "instant detection" will arrive within ten years. The physical form and application scenarios of biosensors will be personalized.

 

In the next ten years, the development of biosensors will no longer be like smart watches or fitness wristbands, but will realize personalized needs through 3D printing technology.

 

Recently, American researchers announced the development of a 3D-printed implantable blood pressure sensor device. Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States have created a nanoscale "mockporin," a carbon nanotube that can be used to transport drugs in the body, as the basis for a new type of biosensor and DNA sequencing applications. The Mayo Clinic and wireless sensor company gentag also announced a few days ago that they plan to develop a single-use wireless wearable patch sensor the size of an ointment that can be integrated with a smartphone to monitor diabetes, obesity and related diseases.

 

Driven by the integration of 3D technology and nanotechnology in biosensors, more wearable devices will be redefined, not only in physical form, but also in seamless connection with the human body, bringing us unlimited imagination.