Biosensors for heavy metals

A biosensor is an analytical device that consists of an immobilized biocomponent in conjunction with a transducer, and represents a synergistic combination of biotechnology and microelectronics. This review summarizes the use of biosensors for detecting and quantifying heavy metal ions. Heavy metal contamination is of serious concern to human health since these substances are non-biodegradable and retained by the ecological system. Conventional analytical techniques for heavy metals (such as cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) are precise but suffer from the disadvantages of high cost, the need for trained personnel and the fact that they are mostly laboratory bound. Biosensors have the advantages of specificity, low cost, ease of use, portability and the ability to furnish continuous real time signals. The analysis of heavy metal ions can be carried out with biosensors by using both protein (enzyme, metal-binding protein and antibody)-based and whole-cell (natural and genetically engineered microorganism)-based approaches.