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Microbial Biosensors

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Multicolor Fluorescence Detection for Droplet Microfluidics Using Optical Fibers

Multicolor Fluorescence Detection for Droplet Microfluidics Using Optical Fibers

Published on: May 5, 2016

Plastic optical fiber-based biosensor platform for rapid cell detection.

Gisele Wandermur¹, Domingos Rodrigues¹, Regina Allil²

¹Photonic and Instrumentation Laboratory, Electrical Engeineering Program, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics

|December 17, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a rapid plastic optic fiber (POF) biosensor for detecting Escherichia coli (E. coli). The novel biosensor provides a positive bacterial detection response in under 10 minutes, showing commercial potential.

Keywords:

Biosensor Cell detection Immunosensor Plastic optical fiber

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Optoelectronics
Biosensing Technology

Background:

Accurate detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) is crucial for public health.
Existing detection methods can be time-consuming and require complex laboratory equipment.
Plastic optic fiber (POF) based sensors offer potential for portable and cost-effective diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a novel, fast-response plastic optic fiber (POF) biosensor for detecting E. coli.
To demonstrate the sensor's capability for rapid, on-site bacterial detection.
To assess the potential for commercial development of a portable field sensor.

Main Methods:

Manufactured U-shaped POF probes using a specialized device.
Calibrated probes using sucrose solutions to cover a refractive index (RI) range relevant to water and bacteria.
Functionalized probes with anti-E. coli antibodies and tested with varying concentrations of E. coli (10^4 to 10^8 CFU/ml).
Utilized an optoelectronic setup with an 880 nm LED, photodetector, transconductance amplifier, and microcontroller for signal acquisition.

Main Results:

The biosensor demonstrated a decrease in output signal over time correlated with bacterial attachment and increased RI.
Positive detection of E. coli was achieved in less than 10 minutes across tested concentrations.
The system showed good sensitivity, accuracy, and repeatability during calibration and testing.

Conclusions:

The developed POF biosensor is a robust, simple-to-construct, and fast-response device for E. coli detection.
The sensor's performance indicates significant potential for commercialization as a portable field diagnostic tool.
This technology offers a promising alternative for rapid bacterial monitoring in various settings.