New biosensor powers itself, detects and kills bacteria to make water safe
The biosensor uses an enzyme-based biofuel cell, antibodies called aptamers and a bacterial elimination mechanism to make water decontamination faster and easier.
A team of researchers has developed a new self-powered biosensor that can detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in drinking water and destroy them in situ (on site). This discovery could have enormous ramifications for providing safe drinking water worldwide.
Traditional methods, such as culturing or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are time-consuming and labor-intensive. They also require specialized equipment and trained staff.
Biosensors (devices that use living organisms or biological molecules) are faster, but tend to need external power sources to function. They also have the irksome tendency to degrade over time. The new sensor, however, addresses many of these issues by deploying three main components to generate its own energy.
Three components
The first, an enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC), provides power for the sensor by using enzymes to generate electricity from biochemical reactions. It uses glucose oxidase (GOx) to break down glucose, producing electrons (electricity) and hydrogen peroxide. However, this enzyme loses stability over time.
To solve this, the team encapsulated it in a hollow metal-organic framework (MOF) called ZIF-8, which protects from damage over time and maintains efficiency and stability under different conditions.