Current Advances and Future of Microalgae-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Pollutants

Abstract

Genetic and biotechnological developments have made it possible to apply synthetic biology approaches to new classes of microbial hosts, such as photosynthetic microalgae. A biosensor is a device that transforms a biological answer into an electrical signal. These devices have the potential to be used in a wide range of applications, including environmental and water quality monitoring. In biosensing applications, microalgae have been widely used as bioreceptors due to their lower susceptibility to physiochemical changes, as well as being used in medical, environmental, industrial, and commercial fields. To overcome the limitations of conventional analytical techniques, new technologies are being introduced based on integrating different types of microorganisms, including microalgae, to build biosensors. Detecting environmental pollutants is one of the main applications of biosensors. Our study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using microalgae to produce biosensors as a new technology for detecting wastewater pollutants such as heavy metals.