Parameters to consider in the construction of fiber-optic biosensors as alternative bioanalytical tools

A biosensor is a self-contained, bionic, integrated device that includes a biorecognition element that can respond in a concentration-dependent manner to a biochemical species. This article represents different possible methods of immobilizing biorecognition element used in fiber-optic-based biosensors. The method is chosen according to the analyte and the biorecognition element that will be used to sense it. In this review, two different approaches are represented: one using live organisms (based on bioluminescence) and one using immune reagents (based on chemiluminescence). Whole-cell fiber-optic biosensors have internal Bragg grating information with the potential to analyze samples without any additives in most cases. It includes a photon-counting system to measure a low-light response produced by markers of recognition elements. A flow-through, fiber-optic-based bacterial monitoring system for online monitoring of toxic pollutants in water has been developed. This monitoring system has proved to be a useful next step in the development of a simple online, realtime sensor for relevant human toxicants in flowing water.