Interdigitated array microelectrodes based impedance biosensors for detection of bacterial cells.

Impedance spectroscopy is a sensitive technique to characterize the chemical and physical properties of solid, liquid, and gas phase materials. In recent years this technique has gained widespread use in developing biosensors for monitoring the catalyzed reaction of enzymes; the bio-molecular recognition events of specific proteins, nucleic acids, whole cells, antibodies or antibody-related substances; growth of bacterial cells; or the presence of bacterial cells in the aqueous medium. Interdigitated array microelectrodes (IDAM) have been integrated with impedance detection in order to miniaturize the conventional electrodes, enhance the sensitivity, and use the flexibility of electrode fabrication to suit the conventional electrochemical cell format or microfluidic devices for variety of applications in chemistry and life sciences. This article limits its discussion to IDAM based impedance biosensors for their applications in the detection of bacterial cells. It elaborates on different IDAM geometries their fabrication materials and design parameters, and types of detection techniques. Additionally, the shortcomings of the current techniques and some upcoming trends in this area are also mentioned.