Bioluminescent bioreporter pad biosensor for monitoring water toxicity

Tim Axelrod; Evgeni Eltzov; Robert S Marks

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2015.11.067

Bioluminescent bioreporter pad biosensor for monitoring water toxicity

Talanta. 2016:149:290-297. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.11.067. Epub 2015 Nov 28.

Authors

Tim Axelrod¹, Evgeni Eltzov², Robert S Marks³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
² Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technology University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore.
³ Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technology University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore; National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

PMID: 26717844
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.11.067

Abstract

Toxicants in water sources are of concern. We developed a tool that is affordable and easy-to-use for monitoring toxicity in water. It is a biosensor composed of disposable bioreporter pads (calcium alginate matrix with immobilized bacteria) and a non-disposable CMOS photodetector. Various parameters to enhance the sensor's signal have been tested, including the effect of alginate and bacterium concentrations. The effect of various toxicants, as well as, environmental samples were tested by evaluating their effect on bacterial luminescence. This is the first step in the creation of a sensitive and simple operative tool that may be used in different environments.

Keywords: Bioluminescence; Bioreporter; Biosensor; Calcium Alginate; Water pollution.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alginates / chemistry
Ammonium Hydroxide / toxicity
Biosensing Techniques*
Cells, Immobilized / drug effects
Cells, Immobilized / metabolism
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Escherichia coli / drug effects*
Escherichia coli / metabolism
Formaldehyde / toxicity
Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
Luminescence
Luminescent Measurements
Mercury / toxicity
Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

Alginates
Hexuronic Acids
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Formaldehyde
Ammonium Hydroxide
Glucuronic Acid
Mercury