Chemical Biosensors

• A chemical biosensor is a sensor that produces an electric signal

proportional to the concentration of biochemical analytes . These
biosensors use chemical as well as physical principles in their
operation.

2 v 1.2
 • Importance of cell- building blocks for organ systems in the body

• Functional status of an organ system is measured by measuring the

chemical input and output analytes of the cell

input is metablolic food

Cell

Output waste products

3 v 1.2
 table_10_01

4
Table 10.1
 Chemical laboratory services

• Central • Bed side • Point care

laboratory monitors analysis
services • In ICUS • Pregnancy
• there is a dialysis testing,
delay between centers, glucose
when the measurements
sample is
obtained and
result is
determined

5 v 1.2
 Biosensor – introduction
• Biosensor: is a sensor using a living component or a product of a
living thing for measurement or indication. Generally a biosensor
consists of two parts
• A biological recognition element (enzyme, antibody, receptor) to
provide selectivity to sense the target of interest (referred to as the
analyte).
• A supporting element which also acts as a transducer to convert the
biochemical reaction into “signal” that can be read out.
• Receptor” provides selective molecular recognition
• For example: enzymes, antibodies, receptors, nucleic acids,
polypeptides, etc.

6 v 1.2
 • pO2(partial pressure of oxygen), pCO2 (partial pressure of
carbondiooxide), pH (Concentration of hydrogen ions) are vital in
diagnonosis and treatment of many pathological conditions.
• Made on specimen of arterial blood

• PO2: Arterial O2 determines alveolar ventilation efficiency

• SO2: Amount of O2 per unit volume of blood

7 v 1.2
 fig_10_01

Figure 10.1 The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, showing the effect of

pH and temperature on the relationship between SO2 and PO2.
8 v 1.2
 Reasons for decrease in PO2

• Normal 90 to 100 mm Hg
1. Decreased delivery of O2 to the site of O2 exchange between the
inspired air and the blood (lung alveoli).
Eg: (a) decreased over all ventilation: narcotic overdose or paralysis of
ventilator muscles
(b) obstruction of major airways :by aspirated foreign subjects such
as food, by spasm of the airway muscles due to acute asthma
(c) by filling of alveoli and small airways with fluid: pneumonia or
pulmonary edema

2. Decreased delivery of blood to the alveoli to which O2 is being

supplied.
(a) Congenital cardiac abnormalities: blood is shunted past the
lungs
(b) an obstruction of flow through pulmonary blood vessels
9 v 1.2
 Reasons for decrease in pCO2

• Normal 35 to 40 mm Hg.
• pCO2 level is an indicator of the adequacy of ventilation
• Common in the first category which we have discussed in the
previous slide

10 v 1.2
 Reasons for decreased pH

• The acid base status of the blood is measured by measuring the

hydrogen ion concentration.
• pH = −log 10 [H+ ]
• Decreased PH means increase in quantity of hydrogen ions
• Decreased excretion of carbon dioxide- respiratory acidosis
• Increased production of fixed acids- e.g. diabetic ketoacidosis*
• Abnormal loss of bicarbonate

11 v 1.2
 Reasons for increased pH

• Increased excretion of Co2- respiratory alkalosis

• Abnormal losses of acid – metabolic alkalosis e.g. due vomiting

12 v 1.2
 table_10_02

Table 10.2
 Measurement of pH
• It is done by utilizing a glass electrode that generates an electric
potential when solutions of differing pH are placed on two sides of
its membrane
• Glass electrode is a member of the class of ion specific electrodes
that react to any extend only with a specific ion
 fig_10_02

Figure 10.2 pH electrode (From R. Hicks, J. R. Schenken, and M. A. Steinrauf,

Laboratory Instrumentation. Hagerstown, MD: Harper & Row, 1974. Used with
permission of C. A. McWhorter.)
 Measurement of pCo2
• Relationship between PCO and pH is linear over the range
2
of 10 to 90 mm Hg.
• The carbonic acid - bicarbonate system is a classic
chemical buffer.
• In addition, the body has the ability to eliminate
chemicals from either end of the chemical reaction to
maintain the pH.
• In the case of bicarbonate, the chemical reaction is:

               
H2O + CO2 =   H2CO3 = H+ +   HCO3-

Concentration of Co2 in blood [Co2] = a (Pco2)

Measurement of pCo2
 fig_10_03

Figure 10.3 PCO2 electrode (From R. Hicks, J. R. Schenken, and M. A.

Steinrauf, Laboratory Instrumentation. Hangerstown, MD: Harper & Row,
1974. Used with permission of C. A. McWhorter.)
 Po2 electrode (Clark type polarographic electrode)

Figure 10.4 PO2 electrode (From R. Hicks, J. R. Schenken, and M. A.

Steinrauf, Laboratory Instrumentation. Hangerstown, MD: Harper & Row,
1974. Used with permission of C. A. McWhorter.)
 fig_10_05

Figure 10.5 (a) Current plotted against polarizing voltage for a typical PO2
electrode for the percents O2 shown. (b) Electrode operation with a
polarizing voltage of 0.68 V gives a linear relationship between current
output and percent O2.