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A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Biosensors and Biosensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 26897

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Prof. Dr. Ying-Chien Chung

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Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11581, Taiwan
Interests: environmental biotechnology; applied microbiology; biosensor; biological engineering; bioremediation; microbial fuel cell; waste conversion; environmental engineering with applications in wastewater treatment; wastegas treatment by biofilter; composting technique; the study in chitosan science; photocatalysis technique; the measurement and reduction of greenhouse gases; adsorption technique
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Prof. Dr. Chih-Yu Chen

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Department of Tourism and Leisure, Hsing Wu University, New Taipei City 244012, Taiwan
Interests: environmental toxicology; bioelectricity; environmental microorganisms; environmental biotechnology and biochemical engineering; wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fast growth of environmental pollution around the world and waste discharge require environmental monitoring and waste recovery technology. The molecular and bioelectrochemical techniques for quantitative and qualitative pollutant dectection have been available for environmental surveys. In recent years, many molecular techniques, e.g., quantitative PCR, recombinant DNA, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), have been developed intensively. This Special Issue, titled “Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring”, of the international SCI Journal (2021 IF = 5.743) Biosensors, will mainly cover original research which relates to the abovementioned topic, including microbial electrochemistry, environmental survey, environmental monitoring, and molecular techniques. Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results. The Special Issue aims to focus on the recent development of biosensing strategies applied to environmental survey and environmental monitoring research. Furthermore, the Special Issue will provide an overview of recent achievements and stimulate ideas about current and future research in the biosensors field. Both original papers and review articles are welcome. I look forward to receiving your outstanding research outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Ying-Chien Chung
Prof. Dr. Chih-Yu Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

environmental biotechnology
biosensor
biological engineering
bioremediation
waste treatment

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Multiplexed Electrochemical Aptasensor for the Detection of Cyanotoxins

by Amina Rhouati and Mohammed Zourob

Biosensors 2024, 14(6), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14060268 - 24 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1099

Abstract

In this study, we report a multiplexed platform for the simultaneous determination of five marine toxins. The proposed biosensor is based on a disposable electrical printed (DEP) microarray composed of eight individually addressable carbon electrodes. The electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles on the carbon surface offers high conductivity and enlarges the electroactive area. The immobilization of thiolated aptamers on the AuNP-decorated carbon electrodes provides a stable, well-orientated and organized binary self-assembled monolayer for sensitive and accurate detection. A simple electrochemical multiplexed aptasensor based on AuNPs was designed to synchronously detect multiple cyanotoxins, namely, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), Cylindrospermopsin (CYL), anatoxin-α, saxitoxin and okadaic acid (OA). The choice of the five toxins was based on their widespread presence and toxicity to aquatic ecosystems and humans. Taking advantage of the conformational change of the aptamers upon target binding, cyanotoxin detection was achieved by monitoring the resulting electron transfer increase by square-wave voltammetry. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of the proposed aptasensor was estimated to be from 0.018 nM to 200 nM for all the toxins, except for MC-LR where detection was possible within the range of 0.073 to 150 nM. Excellent sensitivity was achieved with the limits of detection of 0.0033, 0.0045, 0.0034, 0.0053 and 0.0048 nM for MC-LR, CYL, anatoxin-α, saxitoxin and OA, respectively. Selectivity studies were performed to show the absence of cross-reactivity between the five analytes. Finally, the application of the multiplexed aptasensor to tap water samples revealed very good agreement with the calibration curves obtained in buffer. This simple and accurate multiplexed platform could open the window for the simultaneous detection of multiple pollutants in different matrices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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16 pages, 4185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kiwi 4.0: In Vivo Real-Time Monitoring to Improve Water Use Efficiency in Yellow Flesh Actinidia chinensis

by Filippo Vurro, Luigi Manfrini, Alexandra Boini, Manuele Bettelli, Vito Buono, Stefano Caselli, Beniamino Gioli, Andrea Zappettini, Nadia Palermo and Michela Janni

Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050226 - 3 May 2024

Viewed by 1526

Abstract

This manuscript reports the application of sensors for water use efficiency with a focus on the application of an in vivo OECT biosensor. In two distinct experimental trials, the in vivo sensor bioristor was applied in yellow kiwi plants to monitor, in real-time and continuously, the changes in the composition and concentration of the plant sap in an open field during plant growth and development. The bioristor response and physiological data, together with other fruit sensor monitoring data, were acquired and combined in both trials, giving a complete picture of the biosphere conditions. A high correlation was observed between the bioristor index (ΔI_gs), the canopy cover expressed as the fraction of intercepted PAR (fi_PAR), and the soil water content (SWC). In addition, the bioristor was confirmed to be a good proxy for the occurrence of drought in kiwi plants; in fact, a period of drought stress was identified within the month of July. A novelty of the bioristor measurements was their ability to detect in advance the occurrence of defoliation, thereby reducing yield and quality losses. A plant-based irrigation protocol can be achieved and tailored based on real plant needs, increasing water use sustainability and preserving high-quality standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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12 pages, 1474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Detection of Estrogen-like Compounds by Genetically Engineered Yeast Sensor Strains

by Nidaa Abu-Rmailah, Liat Moscovici, Carolin Riegraf, Hadas Atias, Sebastian Buchinger, Georg Reifferscheid and Shimshon Belkin

Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040193 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1952

Abstract

The release of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) to the environment poses a health hazard to both humans and wildlife. EDCs can activate or inhibit endogenous endocrine functions by binding hormone receptors, leading to potentially adverse effects. Conventional analytical methods can detect EDCs at a high sensitivity and precision, but are blind to the biological activity of the detected compounds. To overcome this limitation, yeast-based bioassays have previously been developed as a pre-screening method, providing an effect-based overview of hormonal-disruptive activity within the sample prior to the application of analytical methods. These yeast biosensors express human endocrine-specific receptors, co-transfected with the relevant response element fused to the specific fluorescent protein reporter gene. We describe several molecular manipulations of the sensor/reporter circuit in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae bioreporter strain that have yielded an enhanced detection of estrogenic-like compounds. Improved responses were displayed both in liquid culture (96-well plate format) as well as in conjunction with sample separation using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The latter approach allows for an assessment of the biological effect of individual sample components without the need for their chemical identification at the screening stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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12 pages, 1747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competitive Immunoassay in a Microfluidic Biochip for In-Field Detection of Abscisic Acid in Grapes

by Cristiana Domingues, Rui Meirinho, Rodolfo G. Rodrigues, Ana Margarida Fortes, Virginia Chu and João Pedro Conde

Biosensors 2024, 14(3), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14030123 - 26 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1751

Abstract

Viticulture and associated products are an important part of the economy in many countries. However, biotic and abiotic stresses impact negatively the production of grapes and wine. Climate change is in many aspects increasing both these stresses. Routine sample retrievals and analysis tend to be time-consuming and require expensive equipment and skilled personnel to operate. These challenges could be overcome through the development of a miniaturized analytic device for early detection of grapevine stresses in the field. Abscisic acid is involved in several plant processes, including the onset of fruit ripening and tolerance mechanisms against drought stress. This hormone can be detected through a competitive immunoassay and is found in plants in concentrations up to 10⁻¹ mg/mL. A microfluidic platform is developed in this work which can detect a minimum of 10⁻¹¹ mg/mL of abscisic acid in buffer. Grape samples were tested using the microfluidic system alongside benchmark techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography. The microfluidic system could detect the increase to 10⁻⁵ mg/mL of abscisic acid present in real berry samples at the veraison stage of ripening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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13 pages, 3881 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Remarkable Antioxidant Activity of Plant-Based Fish and Seafood Analogs through Electrochemical Sensor Analysis

by Gabriella Magarelli, Cínthia Caetano Bonatto, Gabriela Mendes da Rocha Vaz, Victoria Baggi Mendonça Lauria and Luciano Paulino Silva

Biosensors 2023, 13(7), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13070751 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

The global consumption of vegan foods is experiencing an expressive upward trend, underscoring the critical need for quality control measures based on nutritional and functional considerations. This study aimed to evaluate the functional quality of caviar and salmon analog food inks based on pulses combined with nano ingredients and produced in our laboratory (LNANO). The primary objective of this work was to determine the total antioxidant compounds contained in these samples using a voltammetric technique with a glassy carbon electrode. The samples underwent ethanolic extraction (70%) with 1 h of stirring. The voltammograms were acquired in a phosphate buffer electrolyte, pH 3.0 with Ag/AgCl (KCl 3 mol L⁻¹) as the reference electrode and platinum wire as the auxiliary electrode. The voltammograms revealed prominent anodic current peaks at 0.76–0.78 V, which are attributed to isoflavones. Isoflavones, known secondary metabolites with substantial antioxidant potential commonly found in pulses, were identified. The total isoflavone concentrations obtained ranged from 31.5 to 64.3 mg Eq genistein 100 g⁻¹. The results not only validated the efficacy of the electrochemical sensor for quantifying total antioxidant compounds in the samples but also demonstrated that the concentration of total isoflavones in caviar and salmon analogs fell within the expected limits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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16 pages, 34100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metal–Organic Framework Fluorescence Sensors for Rapid and Accurate Detection of Melamine in Milk Powder

by Mahmood Alizadeh Sani, Gholamreza Jahed-Khaniki, Ali Ehsani, Nabi Shariatifar, Mohammad Hadi Dehghani, Mohammad Hashemi, Hedayat Hosseini, Mohammad Abdollahi, Shokoufeh Hassani, Zahra Bayrami and David Julian McClements

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010094 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3815

Abstract

In this research, a simple, label-free, and ultra-sensitive fluorescent platform based on a metal–organic framework (MOF) has been developed to detect melamine in milk powder. This fluorescence sensor was fabricated from sensitized terbium (Tb)@NH₂-MIL-253 (Al) MOF using a hydrothermal method that involved combining the green emission of Tb (λ_em = 545 nm) with the blue emission of NH₂-MIL-253(Al) MOF (λ_em = 430 nm) under a single excitation wavelength (λ_ex = 335 nm). The fluorescence sensor was then used under optimized conditions (pH = 9.0; sensor concentration = 30 mg/L; response time = 30 s) to quantify melamine in milk powder. The accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility of this sensor were established compared to the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The linear range and lower limit of detection (LLOD, computed with 3σ/S) of the sensor were between 40–396.45 nM (equal to 25 µg/kg–0.25 mg/kg) and 40 nM (equal to 25 µg/kg), respectively, which is much less than the maximum residual level (MRL) for the detection of melamine in infant formula (1 mg/kg) and other foods/feeds (2.5 mg/kg). Additionally, the results had good agreement with the HPLC outcomes, suggesting that the NH₂-MIL-253(Al) MOF sensing probe has great precision and repeatability. To conclude, the new fluorescence sensor developed in this study can accurately and sensitively detect melamine in food samples, which may be useful for screening for adulteration of milk powders and other foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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17 pages, 3558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aptamer Trimode Biosensor for Trace Glyphosate Based on FeMOF Catalytic Oxidation of Tetramethylbenzidine

by Yuxiang Zhao, Qianmiao Chen, Chi Zhang, Chongning Li, Zhiliang Jiang and Aihui Liang

Biosensors 2022, 12(11), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12110920 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2237

Abstract

The stable and highly catalytic Fe metal–organic framework (FeMOF) nanosol was prepared and characterized by electron microscopy, and energy and molecular spectral analysis. It was found that FeMOF strongly catalyzed the oxidation of 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H₂O₂ to produce TMBox, which had a fluorescence (FL) peak at 410 nm. When silver nanoparticles were added, it exhibited strong resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) activity and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. This new FeMOF nanocatalytic trimode indicator reaction was combined with the glyphosate aptamer reaction to establish a new SERS/RRS/FL trimode biosensor for glyphosate. The sensor can be used for the analysis of environmental wastewater, and a new method for detecting glyphosate content in wastewater is proposed. The linear range of the sensor is 0.1–14 nmol/L, the detection limit is 0.05 nmol/L, the recovery is 92.1–97.5%, and the relative standard deviation is 3.6–8.7%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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11 pages, 2400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nonbiodegradable Spiegelmer-Driven Colorimetric Biosensor for Bisphenol A Detection

by Shuo Ren, Samuel Cho, Ruixan Lin, Vinayakumar Gedi, Sunyoung Park, Chul Woo Ahn, Dong-Ki Lee, Min-Ho Lee, Sangwook Lee and Soyoun Kim

Biosensors 2022, 12(10), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12100864 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2314

Abstract

Spiegelmers are enantiomers of natural D-oligonucleotides that bind to targets with distinct structures such as aptamers. The high susceptibility of natural D-form aptamers to nucleases greatly hinders their application in biological environments. Here, a nonbiodegradable spiegelmer-based platform for the sensitive detection of bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. Due to the symmetric molecule of BPA, the D-form aptamer can be directly converted into mirror forms via chemical synthesis. Aptamer–target interactions that involve chemically synthesized spiegelmers were characterized by biolayer interferometry, and their stabilities were tested in various biological fluids by exposure to nucleases. We demonstrate for the first time the use of a nuclease-resistant spiegelmer in a simple, label-free gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay to detect BPA in a highly sensitive and selective manner. The aptasensor exhibits an LOD of 0.057 ng/mL and dynamic range of 10⁵ (100 pg/mL to 10 mg/mL). With sensing capacity and biological stability, the developed aptasensor shows great potential to utilize in in-field applications such as water quality monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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Review

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17 pages, 3381 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Cd²⁺ Detection

by Zihan Gao, Yin Wang, Haijian Wang, Xiangxiang Li, Youyang Xu and Jieqiong Qiu

Biosensors 2023, 13(6), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13060612 - 2 Jun 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2832

Abstract

Cd²⁺, a major environmental pollutant, is heavily toxic to human health. Many traditional techniques are high-cost and complicated; thus, developing a simple, sensitive, convenient, and cheap monitoring approach is necessary. The aptamer can be obtained from a novel method called SELEX, which is widely used as a DNA biosensor for its easy acquisition and high affinity of the target, especially for heavy metal ions detection, such as Cd²⁺. In recent years, highly stable Cd²⁺ aptamer oligonucleotides (CAOs) were observed, and electrochemical, fluorescent, and colorimetric biosensors based on aptamers have been designed to monitor Cd²⁺. In addition, the monitoring sensitivity of aptamer-based biosensors is improved with signal amplification mechanisms such as hybridization chain reactions and enzyme-free methods. This paper reviews approaches to building biosensors for inspecting Cd²⁺ by electrochemical, fluorescent, and colorimetric methods. Finally, many practical applications of sensors and their implications for humans and the environment are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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21 pages, 1067 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Update on the Use of Natural Pigments and Pigment Nanoparticle Adducts for Metal Detection Based on Colour Response

by Raspati D. Mulyaningsih, Rimadani Pratiwi and Aliya N. Hasanah

Biosensors 2023, 13(5), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13050554 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3654

Abstract

Natural pigments occur in plants as secondary metabolites and have been used as safe colourants in food. Studies have reported that their unstable colour intensity might be related to metal ion interaction, which leads to the formation of metal–pigment complexes. This underlines the need for further investigations on the use of natural pigments in metal detection using colorimetric methods, since metals are important elements and can be hazardous when present in large amounts. This review aimed to discuss the use of natural pigments (mainly betalains, anthocyanins, curcuminoids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll) as reagents for portable metal detection based on their limits of detection, to determine which pigment is best for certain metals. Colorimetric-related articles over the last decade were gathered, including those involving methodological modifications, sensor developments, and a general overview. When considering sensitivity and portability, the results revealed that betalains are best applied for copper, using a smartphone-assisted sensor; curcuminoids are best applied for lead, using a curcumin nanofiber; and anthocyanin is best applied for mercury, using anthocyanin hydrogel. This provides a new perspective on the use of colour instability for the detection of metals with modern sensor developments. In addition, a coloured sheet representing metal concentrations may be useful as a standard to support on-site detection with trials on masking agents to improve selectivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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16 pages, 1152 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sandwich Hybridization Assay for In Situ Real-Time Cyanobacterial Detection and Monitoring: A Review

by Ping Gong, Anna K. Antrim, Sarah R. Bickman, Emily G. Cooley and Seung Ho Chung

Biosensors 2022, 12(8), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12080640 - 14 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2857

Abstract

As cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cHAB) events increase in scale, severity, frequency, and duration around the world, rapid and accurate monitoring and characterization tools have become critically essential for regulatory and management decision-making. The composition of cHAB-forming cyanobacteria community can change significantly over time and space and be altered by sample preservation and transportation, making in situ monitoring necessary to obtain real-time and localized information. Sandwich hybridization assay (SHA) utilizes capture oligonucleotide probes for sensitive detection of target-specific nucleic acid sequences. As an amplification-free molecular biology technology, SHA can be adapted for in-situ, real-time or near real-time detection and qualitatively or semi-quantitatively monitoring of cHAB-forming cyanobacteria, owing to its characteristics such as being rapid, portable, inexpensive, and amenable to automation, high sensitivity, specificity and robustness, and multiplexing (i.e., detecting multiple targets simultaneously). Despite its successful application in the monitoring of marine and freshwater phytoplankton, there is still room for improvement. The ability to identify a cHAB community rapidly would decrease delays in cyanotoxin analyses, reduce costs, and increase sample throughput, allowing for timely actions to improve environmental and human health and the understanding of short- and long-term bloom dynamics. Real-time detection and quantitation of HAB-forming cyanobacteria is essential for improving environmental and public health and reducing associated costs. We review and propose to apply SHA for in situ cHABs monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing for Environmental Monitoring)

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