Biosensors—a perspective

Biosensors have been under development for over 35 years and research in this field has become very popular for 15 years. Electrochemical biosensors are the oldest of the breed, yet sensors for only one analyte (glucose) have achieved widespread commercial success at the retail level. This perspective provides some cautions related to expectations for biosensors, the funding of science, and the wide gap between academic and commercial achievements for sensor research. The goal of this commentary is not to arrive at any particular truth, but rather to stimulate lively discussion.