REVIEW PAPER
Enzyme-Based Fluorescent Biosensors
and Their Environmental, Clinical
and Industrial Applications
Aleksandra Kłos-Witkowska
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Department of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science,
Faculty of Electrotechnic and Automatic, University of Bielsko-Biała,
Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Submission date: 2014-04-17
Final revision date: 2014-07-10
Acceptance date: 2014-08-03
Publication date: 2015-02-06
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(1):19-25
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ABSTRACT
Enzyme-based fluorescence biosensors and their applications in environmental protection, medicine,
and industry are described. Biosensors used in environmental protection measure toxicity effects. A chemical
compound or group of compounds is detected by the recognition of molecules in the receptor layer and then
by detecting a signal passing through the transducer layer. Biosensors are classified according to the transduction
method. Special emphasis is placed on optical biosensors, especially fluorescent biosensors, and such
measurement techniques as FRET (Fröster resonance energy transfer), FLIM (fluorescence lifetime imaging),
FCS (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy), and changes in fluorescence intensity. The phenomenon of fluorescence
in biosensors and the selection of appropriate methods are described. The use of enzymes in the
receptor layer and enzyme classification according to its category and functions used for analyte detection are
presented. The fluorescence properties of enzymes resulting from possessing such cofactors as flavin or heme
(prosthetic) groups are discussed. Several methods for enzyme immobilization, namely entrapment, adsorption,
covalent immobilization, cross linking, and affinity interaction are described, and the use of enzymatic
fluorescence biosensors in the detection of analytes is presented.