HISTORY
Synthetic biology has been a rapidly growing field with many technological breakthroughs happening just in the last decade, after the year 2000. Athough the history of synthetic biology dates back to the mid 1900s, there is still much to learn about these fascinating systems within the coming years!
Biosensors, proposed in the 1900s, have progressed alongside synthetic biology and have made significant improvements over the last few decades. Learn about the advancements made by biosensors below!
Click the button to learn about current biosensor news as well as what the future holds for biosensors.
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BIOSENSORS TIMELINE
Biosensors were first developed in 1962 by Dr. Leland Clark by using electrodes and measuring blood sugar. However, prior to this discovery, several breakthroughs had to be accomplished by other scientists in order for Dr. Clark to invent the first biosensor. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC) first defined the term 'biosensor' in 1992, and the realm of biosensors has exponentially grown to become a key player in 21st century engineering all across the world.
Take a journey through the history of the biosensor below!
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(I-19) to (I-42)
1916
1922
Nelson and Griffin are the first scientists to immobilize, or restrict movement, in enyzmes by having them absorb invertase on activated charcoal.
The invention of the glass ph electrode by Hughes allows researchers to measure the [H+] concentration in any given substance.
1956
Dr. Leland Clark creates the Clark electrode which is the first electrode to quantitatively measure oxygen. The electrode reduces oxygen and can demonstrate electron flow in oxidative phosphorylation.
Clark develops the first device to fit the description of a biosensor - an amperometric enzyme electrode that measures the amount of glucose specifically in blood.
1962
Guilbault and Montalvo immobilize urease on an ammonia electrode to detect urea, the molecule that is illustrated above.
ISFET was created by Berveld to measure ion concentrations in substances. ISFET's current changes when the pH or ion contrentration fluctuates.
1969
1970
In Ohio, Yellow Springs Instruments launches their glucose biosensor into the mass public for the first time.The biosenor, which measures glucose in blood, is a pen shaped single use electrode.
1972
The first immunosensor, ovalbumin or egg protein on a platinum wire, and the microbe biosensor set the future for modern day detection.
& Immunosensor
1975
This revolutionary optode measures the amount of pO2 and pCO2 in fluids and gases. It is the first to use fluorescent signals and a gas permeable membrane.
1975
Miles designs the first bedside artificial pancreas to benefit people with diabetes. It is a feedback control device that regulates insulin delivery by constantly measured blood sugar levels.
1976
Peterson creates the first pH sensor for in vivo gases, or gases found in living plants of animals, using fibre optics - thin strands made of silica or plastic.
An immunosensor is built using SPR, a technique that guides electrons through a (+) and (-) material by light. Since this experiment, SPR has been used for color-based biosensors.
1980
1983
Glucose is detected by using the first amperometric biosensor which was ferrocene (the molecule shown above) with glucose oxidase.
The Pharmacia BIACore launches its surface plasmon resonance based biosensor system into the public. BIACore is a life sciences company in Sweden.
1984
1993
LifeScan FastTake launches their blood glucose biosensor. They are still in business as one the leading testers in the nation.
Nanotubes covered with enzymes have been used as single-molecule biosensors to detect pH changes. This discovery opens the field of nanobiosensors.
Air Force personnel use the DNA Capture Element biosensor to determine quickly if their equipment has been tampered with biological agents.
Nancantilevers are joined with biosensors to sense specific gene sequences - when a nanocantilever bends to the gene, the light beam direction changes, which signals an optical detector.
1998
2003
2005
2006
2007
Biosensors can detect low levels of harmful E-coli bacteria and biothreats like anthrax in minutes with a single step process that can have many applications in medical diagonistic testing.
iGEM holds its first competition to build genetically engineered machines. Since 2008, many teams have developed helpful biosensors that detect a variety of things, such as rancidity of olive oil.
The first international biosensing technology conference is held in Bristol, UK and gives useful, up-tp-date information on biosensors.
2008
2009
Fluorescent biosensors can aid the creation of drugs that target an important category of proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
2010
An anti-body based biosensor can warn of spills and enviromental clean-ups by rapidly detecting ocean pollulants such as oil.
Originally tested in blood, glucose can now be detected in saliva, tears, and urine. This new biosensor can reduce the pain and not be intrusive to diabetics.
2011
2012
A graphene biosensor can detect cancer biomarkers in a matter of minutes and has huge potential to be a diagonistic tool for cancer patients.
Researchers can see what a plant does under attack through a biosensor by measuring jasmonic acid, a hormone for the alarm system and defense.
