Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 4247 |
| Journal | Sensors (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Early online date | 3 Dec 2018 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2018 |
Abstract
Buried explosive material, e.g., landmines, represent a severe issue for human safety all over the world. Most explosives consist of environmentally hazardous chemicals like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), carcinogenic 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and related compounds. Vapors leaking from buried landmines offer a detection marker for landmines, presenting an option to detect landmines without relying on metal detection. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT), an impurity and byproduct of common TNT synthesis, is a feasible detection marker since it is extremely volatile. We report on the construction of a wireless, handy and cost effective 2,4-dinitrotoluene biosensor combining recombinant bioluminescent bacterial cells and a compact, portable optical detection device. This biosensor could serve as a potential alternative to the current detection technique. The influence of temperature, oxygen and different immobilization procedures on bioluminescence were tested. Oxygen penetration depth in agarose gels was investigated, and showed that aeration with molecular oxygen is necessary to maintain bioluminescence activity at higher cell densities. Bioluminescence was low even at high cell densities and 2,4-DNT concentrations, hence optimization of different prototypes was carried out regarding radiation surface of the gels used for immobilization. These findings were applied to sensor construction, and 50 ppb gaseous 2,4-DNT was successfully detected.
Keywords
- Biological sensor, Bioluminescence, Biosensor, Chemical vapor signature, Explosive material, Landmine detection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Instrumentation
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
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In: Sensors (Switzerland), Vol. 18, No. 12, 4247, 12.2018.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A Portable Biosensor for 2,4-Dinitrotoluene Vapors
AU - Prante, Marc
AU - Ude, Christian
AU - Große, Miriam
AU - Raddatz, Lukas
AU - Krings, Ulrich
AU - John, Gernot
AU - Belkin, Shimshon
AU - Scheper, Thomas
N1 - Funding information: This research was funded by NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme project 985042. Work in the Belkin lab was partially supported by the Minerva Center for Bio-Hybrid Complex Systems. Thorleif Hentrop for constructing the electronic parts.
PY - 2018/12
Y1 - 2018/12
N2 - Buried explosive material, e.g., landmines, represent a severe issue for human safety all over the world. Most explosives consist of environmentally hazardous chemicals like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), carcinogenic 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and related compounds. Vapors leaking from buried landmines offer a detection marker for landmines, presenting an option to detect landmines without relying on metal detection. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT), an impurity and byproduct of common TNT synthesis, is a feasible detection marker since it is extremely volatile. We report on the construction of a wireless, handy and cost effective 2,4-dinitrotoluene biosensor combining recombinant bioluminescent bacterial cells and a compact, portable optical detection device. This biosensor could serve as a potential alternative to the current detection technique. The influence of temperature, oxygen and different immobilization procedures on bioluminescence were tested. Oxygen penetration depth in agarose gels was investigated, and showed that aeration with molecular oxygen is necessary to maintain bioluminescence activity at higher cell densities. Bioluminescence was low even at high cell densities and 2,4-DNT concentrations, hence optimization of different prototypes was carried out regarding radiation surface of the gels used for immobilization. These findings were applied to sensor construction, and 50 ppb gaseous 2,4-DNT was successfully detected.
AB - Buried explosive material, e.g., landmines, represent a severe issue for human safety all over the world. Most explosives consist of environmentally hazardous chemicals like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), carcinogenic 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and related compounds. Vapors leaking from buried landmines offer a detection marker for landmines, presenting an option to detect landmines without relying on metal detection. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT), an impurity and byproduct of common TNT synthesis, is a feasible detection marker since it is extremely volatile. We report on the construction of a wireless, handy and cost effective 2,4-dinitrotoluene biosensor combining recombinant bioluminescent bacterial cells and a compact, portable optical detection device. This biosensor could serve as a potential alternative to the current detection technique. The influence of temperature, oxygen and different immobilization procedures on bioluminescence were tested. Oxygen penetration depth in agarose gels was investigated, and showed that aeration with molecular oxygen is necessary to maintain bioluminescence activity at higher cell densities. Bioluminescence was low even at high cell densities and 2,4-DNT concentrations, hence optimization of different prototypes was carried out regarding radiation surface of the gels used for immobilization. These findings were applied to sensor construction, and 50 ppb gaseous 2,4-DNT was successfully detected.
KW - Biological sensor
KW - Bioluminescence
KW - Biosensor
KW - Chemical vapor signature
KW - Explosive material
KW - Landmine detection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058128970&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/s18124247
DO - 10.3390/s18124247
M3 - Article
C2 - 30513956
AN - SCOPUS:85058128970
VL - 18
JO - Sensors (Switzerland)
JF - Sensors (Switzerland)
SN - 1424-8220
IS - 12
M1 - 4247
ER -