An optical detection module-based biosensor using fortified bacterial beads for soil toxicity assessment

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2020-05, Vol.412 (14), p.3373-3381
• Main Authors: Bae, Jin Woo, Seo, Ho Bin, Belkin, Shimshon, Gu, Man Bock
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advances in Direct Optical Detection; Alginates; Alginic acid; Analysis; Analytical Chemistry; Bacteria - cytology; Bacteria - metabolism; Beads; Biochemistry; Bioluminescence; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensors; Cells, Immobilized - cytology; Cells, Immobilized - metabolism; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical pollution; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Contaminants; Contamination; Detectors; Dopamine; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Equipment Design; Food Science; Gasoline; Industrial pollution; Laboratory Medicine; Luminescent Measurements - instrumentation; Mechanical properties; Microspheres; Modules; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nanoparticles; Petrochemicals; Petrochemicals industry; Pollution monitoring; Research Paper; Service stations; Service stations (Motor vehicles); Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil microorganisms; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soil pollution; Soils; Toluene; Toluene - analysis; Toluene - metabolism; Toxicants; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02469-z

An optical biosensor module for soil contamination assessment is presented, employing bioluminescent bacterial bioreporters encapsulated in poly-dopamine (PD)-coated alginate microbeads. The PD-coated beads displayed improved mechanical strength and stability, but somewhat delayed responses to the inducing toxicant. Using toluene as a model soil contaminant, two bioluminescent reporter strains were employed for its detection in the ambient light-blocking, temperature-controlled biosensor module. Bioluminescence of strain TV1061 (harboring an inducible grpE::luxCDABE fusion) increased and that of strain GC2 (harboring a constitutive lac::luxCDABE fusion) decreased in the presence of increasing toluene concentrations. In the former case, a maximal effect was observed in the presence of 1% toluene. This simple optical detection biosensor module may potentially be utilized for monitoring soil contamination from areas suspected of chemical pollution such petrochemical industrial zones or petrol stations.