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. The smartness of nano-materials is attributed to their nanoscale and subsequently unique physicochemical properties and their use in glucose sensing has been aimed at improving performance, reducing cost and miniaturizing the sensor and its associated instrumentation. So far, portable (handheld) glucose analysers were introduced for hospital wards, emergency rooms and physicians' offices; single-use strip systems achieved nanolitre sampling for painless and accurate home glucose monitoring; advanced continuous monitoring devices having 2 to 7 days operating life are in clinical and home use; and continued research efforts are being made to develop and introduce increasingly advanced glucose monitoring systems for health as well as food, biotechnology, cell and tissue culture industries. Nanomaterials have touched every aspect of biosensor design and this chapter reviews their role in the development of advanced technologies for glucose sensing, and especially for diabetes. Research shows that overall, nanomaterials help address the problems with conventional optical and electrochemical biosensors, by enhancing the preferential detection of glucose or its oxidation products through better electron transfer kinetics, sensitivity and response time, while lowering the operating over-voltages for energy efficiency and avoid interference. The reproducible production of nano-materials and nano-structures at low cost is vital for the successful development of nano-technologies for glucose sensing. Several products, especially, home glucose monitoring devices, use nano-materials, but the need for reliable long-term CGM is still unmet. Nano-materials and nano-technologies have an important role in achieving the long-awaited CGM technology.

Over the past 20 years, the field of biosensor research has had a significant impact in both laboratory research and the commercial sector. Over that period, biosensors have revolutionized the care and management of diabetes and have had important impacts in several other areas of clinical diagnostics. Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific have all seen the rise of small and medium sized companies seeking technical and application niches in the manufacture or use of biosensors. The current activity in both gene and protein 'biochips' can be seen as the latest set of tools that allow users who are not analytical science practitioners to make technically complex and reliable biological weapons and the need for their rapid and reliable detection will need to be met by devices that have many characteristics in common with biosensors.
This book provides a practical introduction to the many skills needed in the highly interdisciplinary field of biosensor technology. Edited by two internationally renowned experts in this field, it draws together contributions from active researchers in Europe, North America and Asia who describe how to implement techniques as diverse as protein engineering, optical and electrochemical instrumentation, single cell electrophysiology, screen printing and numerical modelling in the context of producing biosensors for both laboratory and commercial applications. As well as the many detailed protocols and experimental tips, the book also offers an overview of current research in this area as well as pointers to its further directions. The diversity of topics covered means that it will be suitable both for those already active in the area who wish to expandtheir repertoire of experimental tools and for those who are just starting out in biosensors research.