Evolution of Whole-Cell Biosensor Detection Technology for PAHs and Their Halogenated Derivatives Driven by...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their halogenated derivatives are persistent environmental pollutants with carcinogenic potential.
• Effective environmental monitoring and risk assessment necessitate reliable detection strategies for these compounds.
• Microbial whole-cell biosensors are emerging as sensitive tools for pollutant detection, reflecting biological responses in complex matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in whole-cell biosensors for detecting PAHs and their halogenated derivatives.
• To discuss the design, development, and performance enhancement of these biosensing platforms.
• To highlight current trends and future directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on microbial whole-cell biosensors for PAH detection.
• Analysis of design strategies, technological developments, and performance improvements.
• Identification of current research trends and future application prospects.

Main Results:

• Whole-cell biosensors utilize living cells and endogenous pathways for pollutant recognition and signal generation.
• Recent developments focus on enhancing biosensor robustness, standardization, and practical field applicability.
• The field is shifting towards integrated system design and real-world deployment.

Conclusions:

• Whole-cell biosensors provide a biologically relevant and matrix-compatible method for monitoring PAHs and related pollutants.
• Ongoing research aims to create more reliable, engineerable, and field-deployable biosensing platforms.
• These advancements are crucial for effective environmental pollution control and risk assessment.