¿Cómo funcionan los biosensores?

Sensor Technology in Biotechnology

The discussion introduces biosensors as instruments for measuring biological or chemical parameters, combining biological and physical-chemical components. It outlines the three main parts of a biosensor: the biological sensor, transducer, and detector.

Biosensor Components

• Biosensors are instruments that measure biological or chemical parameters. They consist of a biological sensor (e.g., tissue, microorganism culture), transducer, and detector.

Applications in Agro-Food Industry

• Biosensors play a crucial role in the agro-food industry by providing tools to solve problems related to food quality control.

Development of Bacterial Biosensors

The conversation delves into the development of bacterial biosensors focusing on histamine measurement in foods like fish. It highlights the unique position of a Basque company as the sole global producer of these biosensors.

Addressing Industry Needs

• The Basque company emerged in response to the agro-food sector's need for rapid solutions to production-related issues.

Sector Focus and Uniqueness

• The company specializes in biosensors for sectors such as wine, milk, fish, and seafood. Despite being relatively young (founded in 2006), it stands out globally as the exclusive manufacturer of these sensors.

Efficiency and Reliability Enhancement with Biosensors

This segment emphasizes how biosensors streamline quality control processes through rapid analysis, significantly reducing time requirements compared to traditional methods.

Enhanced Analytical Efficiency

• Biosensors expedite analytical processes by reducing analysis time from around 30 minutes to just three minutes per sample.

Improved Measurement Accuracy

• The biofish biosensor measures histamine levels quantitatively, enhancing reliability compared to previous qualitative methods.

Detailed Process of Enzyme Production

The speaker explains the detailed process of producing enzymes, starting from generating bacteria to purifying the enzyme of interest.

Generating Bacteria and Separating Cells

• After incubation for approximately 24 hours, bacteria are generated in the liquid medium.

• The next step involves separating the bacterial cells from the liquid medium using a centrifuge at a specific speed for 15 minutes.

Cell Disruption and Protein Extraction

• Ultrasonication is used to break open the bacterial cells, extracting proteins of interest while leaving cellular debris behind.

• The extracted proteins are then purified by separating them from other contaminants using a specific chemical matrix and solutions.

Enzyme Purification and Activity Testing

• Through purification steps, the enzyme of interest is separated from other proteins, ensuring its purity.

• To maintain enzyme activity, it is kept on ice before undergoing activity testing to confirm functionality.

Fabrication of Biosensor Technology

The speaker discusses the fabrication process of biosensors used in technology applications.

Electrode Preparation and Enzyme Immobilization

• An electrode made of gold is prepared by coating a steel bar with gold to enhance conductivity.

• Gold-coated electrodes are further processed to create a thin layer suitable for enzyme immobilization in nanometers thickness.

Enzyme Interaction and Electron Generation

• Enzymes are immobilized on the electrode surface using micro-pipetting techniques for interaction with target molecules like histamine.

• Interactions between enzymes and histamine generate electrons that migrate through the gold layer, leading to current changes detected by equipment.

Quality Control and Final Assembly

Quality control measures and final assembly steps for biosensors are discussed by the speaker.

Hardware Verification and Data Collection

• Prior to final assembly, electronic components' design verification ensures correct functioning.

Pruebas y Montaje del Equipo

In this section, the speaker discusses the completion of testing and the final assembly phase of the equipment.

Testing and Final Assembly Process

• The phase concludes after testing the team's trial and ensuring all tests are successful.

• The final assembly involves mounting components like the screen, tray at the back, and adjusting the elevator for sample deposition.

• The appearance of the sensor in its closed state with all accessories reflects almost final readiness for manufacturing.

• Following successful analysis validation, the equipment proceeds to customization in preparation for sale post-laboratory testing.

Innovation in Technological Development

This part focuses on technological innovation as a crucial aspect for meeting industry needs.

Technological Innovation Highlights

• Innovation is vital for addressing industry requirements, with a focus on three key areas: new parameters development tailored to specific client needs, automated sensors to simplify measurement processes significantly, and miniaturized sensors for rapid and user-friendly measurements.

• New parameters are designed to cater to clients with unique demands within their sectors.

• Automated sensors aim to streamline measurement processes such as cell filling and emptying automatically without user intervention.

• Miniaturized sensors target quick and straightforward measurements akin to home diabetic glucose meters, eliminating sensor calibration complexities.

Biosensor Fabrication Process

This segment outlines the detailed process involved in manufacturing biosensors.

Biosensor Manufacturing Steps

• Biosensors are derived from bacteria cultivated initially in solid medium before liquid extraction. Subsequent steps involve centrifugation, ultrasonication for cell disruption, enzyme purification, steel bar encapsulation with gold coating for conductivity enhancement, enzyme immobilization using a micro pipette alongside other chemical elements reacting with samples under analysis.

• Electronics and mechanics design encompassing packaging and system functionality follow enzyme immobilization. Hardware verification precedes machine assembly and customization before undergoing quality control checks.