The journal was established by I. John Higgins (Cranfield University), W. Geoff Potter (Science and Engineering Research Council) and Anthony P.F.

It is an interdisciplinary journal serving professionals with an interest in the exploitation of biological materials in novel diagnostic and electronic devices.

Biosensors are defined as analytical devices incorporating a biological material (e.g. tissue, microorganisms, organelles, cell receptors, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, etc.

While the signal may in principle be continuous, devices can be configured to yield single measurements to meet specific market requirements.

Biosensors have been applied to a wide variety of analytical problems including in medicine, the environment, food, process industries, security, and defense.