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A novel biosensor for zinc detection based on microbial fuel cell system.

Aman Khan1, El-Sayed Salama2, Zhengjun Chen3

  • 1MOE, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, PR China.

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Summary

This study engineered E. coli for a microbial fuel cell (MFC) biosensor to detect zinc (Zn2+). The developed biosensor offers real-time, in situ heavy metal monitoring in wastewater, providing an affordable and efficient alternative to traditional methods.

Keywords:
Cell permeabilityElectron shuttle mediatorMFCZn(2+) biosensor

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Biosensors

Background:

  • Microbial fuel cell (MFC) biosensors are limited in heavy metal detection.
  • Developing self-sustainable devices for environmental monitoring is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer a biosynthetic strain of E. coli for enhanced zinc (Zn2+) detection in MFC biosensors.
  • To develop a real-time, in situ MFC biosensor system for heavy metal monitoring.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered E. coli BL21 to express zntR, ribB, and oprF genes under the PzntA promoter for Zn2+ sensing.
  • Constructed an MFC biosensor utilizing the engineered strain and optimized operational parameters (1000 Ω, pH 9, 37°C).
  • Developed an Android application for real-time data acquisition and analysis.

Main Results:

  • The engineered E. coli produced high levels of riboflavin and showed increased membrane permeability correlated with Zn2+ concentrations (0-400 μM).
  • The MFC biosensor demonstrated a linear relationship between maximum voltage output and Zn2+ concentrations (R² = 0.9777).
  • The biosensor accurately detected Zn2+ in wastewater within the 20-100 μM range, comparable to conventional analytical techniques.

Conclusions:

  • The developed MFC biosensor with a biosynthetic strain is an efficient, affordable, and self-sustainable system for real-time heavy metal monitoring.
  • This technology offers a viable alternative for environmental monitoring, particularly for zinc in wastewater.
  • The integration with a mobile application enhances usability for in situ analysis.