Lectin-based biosensors: As powerful tools in bioanalytical applications

The reliable, quick and cost-effective method for detection and quantification of different analytes such as pathogens is crucial in many analytical applications. Biosensors have revolutionized diagnostics and been emerged as a highly promising tool for rapid identification of food and environmental contaminants, biological warfare agents, illicit drugs and human/animal disease markers and other required fields. It is foresighted that the future of detection analytical methods for biological agents shall be guided by biosensor, which has already contributed enormously in sensing and identification technology. However, the increasing numbers of analytes requiring monitoring and others that require control and the need for high sensitivity, speed and accuracy of analytical measurements have stimulated considerable efforts in developing different sensors as diagnostics tools. A range of molecules with biorecognition powers are available naturally such as antibodies, enzymes, cell receptors and nucleic acids which are used as the sensing receptors in biosensors. Currently, Lectins as new bioreceptors has being started to play a pivotal role in many biosensing devices due to their exquisite specificity for their cognate carbohydrates. In this review, biosensor technology and different bio-receptor systems and methods of transduction are described briefly and then lectins characterizations with lectin based biosensors and their application in different fields are discussed. It is expected that the views presented in this article will provide both new ideas and a toolbox in a single reference work for both the beginner and experienced scientists who work on lectins and biosensors. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.