biosensor

noun bio·sen·sor \ -ˈsen-ˌsȯr , -ˈsen(t)-sər \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of biosensor

: a device that monitors and transmits information about a life process; especially : a device consisting of a biological component (such as an enzyme or bacterium) that reacts with a target substance and an electrochemical or optical component that detects the resulting products or by-products and emits a signal

Recent Examples of biosensor from the Web

These biosensors have been modified to recognize a particular molecule of interest, such as the blood component heme.

— karen kaplan, latimes.com, "This futuristic pill senses signs of disease inside the body, then sends a wireless alert to a phone," 25 May 2018
Researchers not involved with the work identified several improvements that are needed for the biosensor to be clinically useful.

— andrew joseph, STAT, "Swallow this: A sensor could monitor gut health via engineered bacteria — and beam results to a smartphone," 24 May 2018
Simmers and colleagues are now trying to use the membrane on biosensors.

— angela chen, The Verge, "You can learn a lot about health — and crime — through sweat," 14 May 2018
In a recent study at McMaster University, in Ontario, researchers tested a biosensor-equipped patch that can be attached to food packaging to alert consumers of the presence of bacteria like salmonella and E. coli.

— Sunset, "A Promising New Way to Prevent Food Recalls," 22 Jan. 2018
Japanese researchers designed a device to monitor uric acid and American and Brazilian scientists created another to monitor glucose; both contained biosensors and wireless communications modules.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "This Tiny Tooth Sensor Could Keep Track of the Food You Eat," 20 Apr. 2018
The miniature biosensor would be placed just beneath the skin surface and be powered wirelessly by a wearable device, such as a smartwatch or patch, the University of California, San Diego engineers explained.

— healthday, chicagotribune.com, "Skin sensor may someday track alcoholics' booze intake," 20 Apr. 2018
Add information from connected devices, biosensors and digital surveys on dosing and compliance, and the data flow becomes so immense that assessing its value becomes its own priority.

— renee morad, Scientific American, "A Flood of Medical Data Could Improve Clinical Trials—or Hinder Them," 12 Mar. 2018
Researchers have shown that nanoparticles can be used to create supersensitive biosensors able to detect cancer cells and even identify molecules that indicate someone is at increased risk for cancer.

— erika hayasaki, Newsweek, "Kanzius Cancer Machine Gets Its First Human Trial," 21 July 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biosensor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of biosensor

1961

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

biosensor

noun bio·sen·sor \ ˈbī-ō-ˌsen-ˌsȯ(ə)r, -ˌsen(t)-sər \

medical Definition of biosensor

New biosensors that can sniff out traces of the explosives RDX and TNT may be used to help clean up old munitions sites.
—Science News, 6 Apr. 1996