Acoustic wave biosensors

Abstract

Acoustic waves have been used for the study of physico-chemical properties of gases, liquids and solids for decades. In recent years there have been growing efforts to utilize acoustic waves for the development of biosensors. Biosensors made with acoustic wave technology are sensitive, accurate, small, portable, robust, and have excellent aging characteristics. In addition, such sensors can be produced using standard photolithography and hence are inexpensive. In this paper acoustic sensing mechanisms and a wide range of bulk and surface acoustic waves used in the sensor development are described. Also, acoustic biosensor classification is given and the sensor-associated instrumentation is presented. Finally, applications of biosensors in medical diagnostic, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical and environmental industries are discussed.