What is an Amperometric Biosensor?
Fuel has become a matter of national security. This sensor is tool that will move us one step closer to establishing a secure (and renewable) source of fuel.
An amperometric biosensor measures a molecule concentration through the generation of an electrical current.
In our case, our sensor measures glucose concentration. Our biosensor is composed of three main units: a biological recognition component that directly interfaces with glucose, a circuit that processes the signal for the biological recognition unit, and a user interface that allows for the interpretation of the data by the user.
Current methods of sugar analysis require the use of discrete samples that are costly and time consuming to analyze. An amperometric biosensor, on the other hand, is comparatively fast and cheap. A reading takes less than a minute, and the probe costs just over a dollar for about a weeks worth of use.
A glucose assay system could play a major role in biofuels research and ultimately national security.
Currently, the United States (US) depends heavily on petroleum products to meet transportation energy demands. Many of the countries that export petroleum into the US are at risk of political instability. A dependence on these politically unstable countries for a resource that is vital to our economic and social well-being jeopardizes our national security.
Environmental conditions are an additional factor affecting the well-being of a nation’s citizens and, therefore, national security. Petroleum use has many negative impacts on the environment, as it is a nonrenewable resource that releases greenhouse gasses and other pollutants when burned. It also results in damaged soil and aquatic ecosystems via its collection and improper disposal (Kharaka and Otton, 2003).
Biofuels are a domestic energy source that produce less toxic byproducts when burned and are more sustainable as they are sourced from renewable feedstock. The Amperometric Glucose Biosensor has significant potential to impact the security of our nation. It enables efficient and rapid investigation into biofuels: the promising, more secure, and environmentally conscious form of transportation fuel.