Biosensors for drug testing and discovery

In this chapter, electrochemical, optical, and acoustic biosensors are reviewed, in a non-exhaustive manner, for the investigation of some drug compounds. Biosensors provide an original conceptual approach as a measuring tool 'decorated' by a biological element. Applications to the quantitative determination of a drug compound in pharmaceutical formulations are described but the preferred field of application is monitoring of the interaction strength of the studied pharmacologically active molecule with the immobilised biocomponent. Enzymes, antibodies, oligonucleotides, DNA and living cells have been utilised as recognition elements. © 2012 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved.SCOPUS: ch.b