Some examples of non-immunological biosensors and non-biosensor immunoassay point-of-care devices are given to show the overall trend in miniaturized diagnostic devices. Biosensors are defined and the common components explained. Customer requirements for a practical biosensor are listed. Amperometric sensors are explored. Piezoelectric mass sensors are also explained and evaluated with a common configuration: quartz crystal microbalance and surface acoustic wave devices with the sub-family of acoustic wave-guide devices. Love-wave devices are also explained. The microcantilever sensor design is explained, including the first cantilever array immunosensor, developed in the authors’ laboratory, and related devices under development. Biosensors utilizing live cells in nanomechanical configurations are also explained. Final conclusions include the challenges of designing for economic manufacture.

Dr. James K. Gimzewski is a Distinguished Professor in the Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA, and Member of the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI). Previously, he worked 20 years at the IBM Corporate Research Laboratories in Zurich, Switzerland. His achievements include: the Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (1997), the Discover Award (1997), the ‘Wired 25’ Award (Wired magazine, 1998), and the Institute of Physics’ “Duddell” prize and medal (2001). He has received honorary doctorates from University of Aix-en-Provence, and University of Strathclyde. He is recognized in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s smallest calculator. He is a Fellow to the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a Fellow of the World Innovation Foundation. His work has received worldwide press coverage. Please see

Jason Reed is Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.