A chemical sensor is a device that transforms chemical information, such as the concentration of a specific sample component or total compositional analysis into an analytically useful signal (Thévenot et al. 2001). The electrochemical method utilized is a distinguishing aspect of an electrochemical biosensor. In addition to the electrochemical method, the sample handling approach and sensor signal readout format also provide distinguishing aspects of a biosensor-based approach for pathogen detection. Thus, we review electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection using a framework built upon transducer elements, biorecognition elements, and measurement formats. An overview of electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection is provided in Fig. 1 . As shown in Fig. 2 a, while the detection of bacterial pathogens remains an area of focus, the detection of viral pathogens and protozoa is an emerging area. As shown in Fig. 2b, studies have focused on pathogen detection in various matrices. We next discuss the transduction elements, biorecognition elements, and measurement formats associated with electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection.
Fig. 1 Components and measurement formats associated with electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection.
Fig. 2 a) Trend in pathogens detected by electrochemical biosensors since 2005 based on the data shown in Table 1, Table 2. b) Common matrices associated with the various pathogen detection applications.