Biosensors in forensic analysis. A review

• The role of biosensors in forensic analysis is critically reviewed.
• The different transduction modes of the biorecognition event are considered.
• The target analytes involved in forensic toxicological analysis are treated.
• Biosensors useful for detection of chemical and biological weapons are commented.
• Tables with the characteristics of biosensors for forensic analysis are provided.

Forensic analysis is an important branch of modern Analytical Chemistry with many legal and socially relevant implications. Biosensors can play an important role as efficient tools in this field considering their well known advantages of sensitivity, selectivity, easy functioning, affordability and capability of miniaturization and automation. This article reviews the latest advances in the use of biosensors for forensic analysis. The different methodologies for the transduction of the produced biological events are considered and the applications to forensic toxicological analysis, classified by the nature of the target analytes, as well as those related with chemical and biological weapons critically commented. The article provides several Tables where the more relevant analytical characteristics of the selected reported methods are gathered.

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