Looking at Commercial Biosensors
Commercial Biosensors: Applications to Clinical, Bioprocess, and Environmental Samples Edited by Graham Ramsay John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1998,295 pp., $69.95
This work represents one of the first attempts to collect a technically oriented treatise about biosensors that have been commercialized. This is a very welcome addition to a field dominated by research publications and claims of commercial potential for a myriad of technologies. The book consists of seven chapters, each written by authors who are authoritative about the products that they describe. Not surprisingly, the greatest emphasis is on the most successful biosensors, namely those for glucose determination and personal diabetes management. Also highlighted are commercial point-of-care devices, biosensors for bioprocess monitoring and control, and biological oxygen demand systems as an example of an environmental application. The device technology focuses on potentiometry, voltammetry, optical spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance andfiber-opticevanescent wave
biosensors. The devices are described in general terms with sufficient theory to understand operating principles; the references allow the reader to delve more deeply into areas of interest. Plenty of technical details are found on instrument design, design criteria, and the chemical and biological reactions that provide for selectivity. Sampling and sample handling are also considered. For example, one chapter focuses on the use of saliva and sweat as alternatives to commonly used blood samples. The quality of the publication is very good. The text is presented in an easily readable style with ample figures, illustrations, and photographs of actual devices. Reference lists at the end of each chapter are generally broad in coverage, presenting recent work as well as a historical perspective. The subject index is detailed and useful. The level of technical sophistication, however, does vary somewhat between chapters. There is some tendency for repetitive disclosure of background information, particularly in descriptions of glucose sensors and the medical details of diabetes the structure and function of electrochemical devices and the theory behind SPR and evanescent wave experiments. There is good depth of treatment of the subject areas from a practical applications perspective, including dealing with issues of statistical reliability of signals, noise, interferences, and calibration. It is useful to have a compendium of technical explanations and operational details for brandname devices such as SureStep, i-STAT, IAsys, and BIAcore, which makes this monograph at once a valuable reference source as well as a good text to complement an advanced course about biosensors and the biosensors market. Perhaps most refreshing is that a number of the chapters provide explicit comparisons of the operational characteristics and performances of competitive devices This allows for a use-
ful comparison of device technology and selective chemistry. Commercial Biosensors will be an important contribution to those working and teaching in the field of biosensors. Ramsay indicates in the preface to this book that there is now much activity in the area of DNA chip technology and DNA biosensors. It is unfortunate that the planning and production time lines of this book did not allow incorporation of this important area. I sincerely hope that a sequel dealing with DNA technologies will be considered. Reviewed byUlrichJ. Krull, University of Toronto (Canadad BOOK RECEIVED Neurochemical Markers of Degenerative Nervous Diseases and Drug addiction G.A. Qureshi, H. Parvez, P. Caudy, and S. Parvez, Eds. VSPBV 3700 AH Zeist The Netherlands 1998, 857 pp., $204
This edition addresses heterogeneity in the clinical analysis of various neurodegenerative diseases and drug addiction as well as the importance of neurochemical markers as a diagnostic tool. The book helps determine whether neurochemical markers reflect a primary neurophysiological or neurochemical event in the disease process, or a secondary event. Aimed to present as much detailed information as possible on various neurochemical markers and their metabolic pathways, this book gives students and clinicians advanced information on various neu~ rodegenerative disorders and the biochemical mechanisms involved. This volume will be of value to researchers and clinicians involved in neurosciences biochemistry and pharmacology
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, November 1, 1998 743 A
