Biosensors and tools for surface functionalization from the macro-to the nanoscale: The way forward

Most of review articles or even books dedicated to biosensing issues are organized by the generally admitted scheme of a biosensor. Subsequently, biological receptors, modified surfaces (and ways to specifically modify those surfaces using established biological and/or chemical recipes), and transduction techniques are thoroughly addressed in this precise order. In this review, we deliberately decided to break the conventional way of providing biosensing review by uniquely addressing biomolecules' immobilization methods onto a solid surface and biosensing-related transduction techniques. The aim of this review is to provide a contemporary snapshot of the biosensing landscape without neglecting the seminal references or products where needed. The main guiding line of the review is the downscaling (from the macro- to the nanoscale) of biosensors and their respective most known applications. To conclude, a brief overview of the most popularized nanodevices applied to biology is given before attempting to comment on biosensors' comparison criteria in terms of targeted applications. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2973147]