...you are head of Biosensors and Bioelectronics Centre at Linköping University. What is it that you work with?

– We established the centre to revive the field of biosensors and bioelectronics and take it forward to the future. The combination of the two areas has an enormous potential and Linköping University has a long history in both of them.

What are biosensors and how are they used in distributed health care?

– Biosensors are analytical devices that use a biological sensing element to generate an electronic signal, which is proportional to a specific analyte or group of analytes. The glucose sensor is a good example. It is the most successful type of biosensor and is for home-use by people with diabetes. It's an easy to use analytical device that measures and monitors the glucose by analysing the blood and can be used by patients at home.

Can you give an example of a project initiated by New Tools for Health?

– One of the projects that we work with here at the centre, and that is funded by New Tools for Health, is to develop a general health monitor. Today maybe you take your temperature if you feel ill. It can indicate there is a problem, but it doesn't say what. Blood pressure is another measurement that is widely used. With our new general health monitor we use saliva to check the metabolism, providing a biochemical indicator of general state of health that gives a more accurate and precise diagnostic.

How do you think that research and development within the field of biosensors will change distributed health care in the future?

– So far we have only exploited a fraction of their potential. For distributed health care there are three different basic ways to use biosensors.

– The first one is biosensors that are attached to you. It could be devises you wear or that are implantable. They can be used to monitor over time, for example monitoring of long-term applications of a drug, to make sure that the drug has desired effects.

– The second one is biosensors that are attached to things like a pen, mobile phone or laptop. They can be used to take tests, for example if you have an allergic reaction, the test can say whether you need to apply a drug or see a doctor. People who have a particular condition can take regular tests at home to monitor their health.

– The third are the more environmentally oriented solutions where the instruments are in the home. They can for example monitor and measure the patterns of your movements and odours from your body, it is like the room it self is looking after you. This can be used in care homes for old people, looking out for signs that help is needed.

You have worked with biosensors for more than 35 years and have over 600 publications and patents, a number of prestigious awards – what is your driving force?

– I really enjoy putting things together. I am an unashamed applied scientist who finds it really challenging taking a fundamental idea to a practical solution. Making a glucose sensor that works all of the time no matter who is using it, is a very difficult thing, writing the theory about it is not so difficult.

Anthony Turner
Professor Turner is also known as Mr Biosensor.
He was the one who defined the area of biosensors,
he has over 600 publications in the field, he published
the first textbook on Biosensors, co-founded the
principal journal in the field, and has helped create a
number of biosensor start ups.

+ Dela / Tipsa