Plasma-polymerized films for biosensors II

Biosensors are devices that use a biological reaction for detecting target analytes by generating a quantifiable electronic signal. They are powerful tools used in medical diagnostics, food-quality control and environmental monitoring. A typical biosensor is an integrated product, incorporating biological elements and transducers. It has been consistently shown that plasma-polymerized thin films (PPFs), created in a glow-discharge or plasma-in-vapor phase, have potential for use as the interface between the two components of biosensors. This review mainly covers the developments in PPFs used for biosensor design since that previous review [H. Muguruma, I. Karube, Trends Anal. Chem. 18 (1999) 62]. To date, transducers have been amenable to miniaturization, and the concept of biosensors has concomitantly expanded to encompass microchips, arrayed sensors and nanotechnology. The role of dry-process-based PPFs in biosensor design has become increasingly more important.