title: Bioluminescent bioreporter pad biosensor for monitoring water toxicity.
abstract: Toxicants in water sources are of concern. We developed a tool that is affordable and easy-to-use for monitoring toxicity in water. It is a biosensor composed of disposable bioreporter pads (calcium alginate matrix with immobilized bacteria) and a non-disposable CMOS photodetector. Various parameters to enhance the sensor's signal have been tested, including the effect of alginate and bacterium concentrations. The effect of various toxicants, as well as, environmental samples were tested by evaluating their effect on bacterial luminescence. This is the first step in the creation of a sensitive and simple operative tool that may be used in different environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technology University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore.
authors.forename: Evgeni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eltzov
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technology University, Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore; National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D064753:Ammonium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005557:Formaldehyde; D064753:Ammonium Hydroxide; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Bioluminescence; Bioreporter; Biosensor; Calcium Alginate; Water pollution