Smart Bioaerosol Monitoring: Advanced Sampling and Sensing across Environmental, Clinical, and Industrial Domains

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Sensor Engineering

Background:

• Bioaerosols, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and allergens, pose increasing health risks due to pandemics and urban pollution.
• The diversity and dynamic nature of bioaerosols make them challenging to control and eliminate effectively.
• Recent advancements in materials science, nanotechnology, and sensor engineering are driving innovation in bioaerosol management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current trends in bioaerosol capture and detection technologies.
• To highlight the role of multifunctional porous materials and real-time analysis.
• To discuss challenges and future directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of engineered materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and carbon-based nanostructures for trapping and neutralizing microbes.
• Analysis of self-disinfecting filtration membranes incorporating antimicrobials (e.g., silver nanoparticles, TiO2, enzymes).
• Review of advanced detection techniques including optical methods (DLS, MFS, HSI) and electrochemical biosensors with aptamers, antibodies, and nanomaterials.

Main Results:

• Engineered materials demonstrate potential for trapping and neutralizing airborne microbes via photocatalytic or oxidative reactions.
• Advanced filtration membranes offer efficient, self-disinfecting capabilities.
• Real-time optical methods and sensitive electrochemical biosensors enable rapid, noninvasive, and portable bioaerosol monitoring.
• Integrated platforms for personalized environmental health monitoring are becoming feasible.

Conclusions:

• Multifunctional porous materials and advanced sensor technologies are transforming bioaerosol capture and detection.
• Real-time monitoring and sensitive detection methods offer significant potential for environmental health applications.
• Addressing challenges like environmental variability, false positives, and sensor longevity is crucial for future advancements in biosensor design, data integration, and standardization.