Jack A. Goode

One of the ways of making drug delivery more efficient is the use of nanosystems for targeted delivery and timed release. This new monograph in the ASME-Momentum Press series on Biomedical & Nanomedical Technologies will explore the latest research on nanoparticulate delivery systems for the immune modulating agent, GMDP (N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramyl-Lisoglutamine), an important component in cell wall structure and receptors. Silica nanoparticles in particular have shown great promise in enhanced delivery of drugs targeted at this cellular wall component. This concise monograph series focuses on the implementation of various engineering principles in the conception, design, development, analysis and operation of biomedical, biotechnological and nanotechnology systems and applications. Each volume is written in an accessible manner and in a concise and manageable length, and will provide an invaluable resource for initial enquiries about technologies, encapsulating the latest developments and applications with reference sources for further detailed information.

Up to 40 volumes are planned for this concise monograph series, which focuses on the implementation of various engineering principles in the conception, design, development, analysis and operation of biomedical, biotechnological and nanotechnology systems and applications. In this monograph, the authors discuss the current progress in the medical application of impedimetric biosensors, along with the key challenges in the field. First, a general overview of biosensor development, structure and function is presented, followed by a detailed discussion of impedimetric biosensors and the principles of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Next, the current state-of-the art in terms of the science and technology underpinning impedance-based biosensors is reviewed in detail. The layer-by-layer construction of impedimetric sensors is described, including the design of electrodes, their nano-modification, transducer surface functionalisation and the attachment of different bioreceptors. The current challenges of translating lab-based biosensor platforms into commercially-available devices that function with real patient samples at the POC are presented; this includes a consideration of systems integration, microfluidics and biosensor regeneration. The final section of this monograph describes case studies of successful impedance-based biosensors for the detection of a range of analytes from small molecules up to whole microorganisms. Finally, the authors put forward future perspectives for the clinical applications of impedimetric biosensors.