Design and Development of Biosensors for the Detection of Heavy Metal Toxicity

TLDR

Heavy metals inhibit enzymes, and biosensors—combining biotechnology and microelectronics—have emerged as sensitive, selective tools for detecting trace heavy metals, improving life quality. The study aims to develop sensitive, selective biosensors capable of simultaneously detecting multiple analytes, potentially integrated into wireless communication systems. The authors systematize enzyme-, DNA-, immuno-, and whole‑cell biosensors by reaction type, transduction signal, and analytical performance, and detail the enzyme‑based detection mechanism and its kinetics. The developed biosensors enable both offline and online heavy‑metal detection, marking a real biosensor revolution.

Abstract

Many compounds (including heavy metals, HMs) used in different fields of industry and/or agriculture act as inhibitors of enzymes, which, as consequence, are unable to bind the substrate. Even if it is not so sensitive, the method for detecting heavy metal traces using biosensors has a dynamic trend and is largely applied for improving the “life quality”, because of biosensor's sensitivity, selectivity, and simplicity. In the last years, they also become more and more a synergetic combination between biotechnology and microelectronics. Dedicated biosensors were developed for offline and online analysis, and also, their extent and diversity could be called a real “biosensor revolution”. A panel of examples of biosensors: enzyme-, DNA-, imuno-, whole-cell-based biosensors were systematised depending on the reaction type, transduction signal, or analytical performances. The mechanism of enzyme-based biosensor and the kinetic of detection process are described and compared. In this context, is explainable why bioelectronics, nanotechnology, miniaturization, and bioengineering will compete for developing sensitive and selective biosensors able to determine multiple analytes simultaneously and/or integrated in wireless communications systems.