FLUORESCENCE-BASED OPTOCHEMICAL SENSORS (OPTODES) AND RELATED BIOSENSORS USING ENZYME-CATALYZED BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBODY-LINKED IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS

Abstract

The principles and some technical properties of fluorescence-based optochemical sensors (optodes) involving membrane-protected O9- and pH-sensitive fluorescent indicator molecules are presented for the continuous measurement of oxygen, carbondioxide and hydrogen ion activities as well as ionic strength. Moreover, sensor-coupled biochemical and immunological reactions, which enable the quantitative determination of various metabolites and hormones on the basis of enzyme-mediated reactions and antigen- antibody interactions are discussed. Finally, some advantages and special features of this new sensor technology are presented in comparison to the conventional electrochemical sensors (electrodes).