Living electrochemical biosensing: Engineered electroactive bacteria for biosensor development and the emerging trends

Abstract

Bioelectrical interfaces made of living electroactive bacteria (EAB) provide a unique opportunity to bridge biotic and abiotic systems, enabling the reprogramming of electrochemical biosensing. To develop these biosensors, principles from synthetic biology and electrode materials are being combined to engineer EAB as dynamic and responsive transducers with emerging, programmable functionalities. This review discusses the bioengineering of EAB to design active sensing parts and electrically connective interfaces on electrodes, which can be applied to construct smart electrochemical biosensors. In detail, by revisiting the electron transfer mechanism of electroactive microorganisms, engineering strategies of EAB cells for biotargets recognition, sensing circuit construction, and electrical signal routing, engineered EAB have demonstrated impressive capabilities in designing active sensing elements and developing electrically conductive interfaces on electrodes. Thus, integration of engineered EAB into electrochemical biosensors presents a promising avenue for advancing bioelectronics research. These hybridized systems equipped with engineered EAB can promote the field of electrochemical biosensing, with applications in environmental monitoring, health monitoring, green manufacturing, and other analytical fields. Finally, this review considers the prospects and challenges of the development of EAB-based electrochemical biosensors, identifying potential future applications.

Keywords: Bioelectrical interfaces; Bioelectrochemistry; Electroactive bacteria; Electrochemical biosensors; Surface engineering; Synthetic biology.