Repetitive Detection of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants with Bioluminescent Bioreporters Attached on Tapered Optical Fiber Elements

Abstract

In this study, we show the repetitive detection of toluene on a tapered optical fiber element (OFE) with an attached layer of Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioluminescent bioreporters. The bioluminescent cell layer was attached on polished quartz modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The repeatability of the preparation of the optical probe and its use was demonstrated with five differently shaped OFEs. The intensity of measured bioluminescence was minimally influenced by the OFE shape, possessing transmittances between 1.41% and 5.00%. OFE probes layered with P. putida TVA8 were used to monitor liquid toluene over a two-week period. It was demonstrated that OFE probes layered with positively induced P. putida TVA8 bioreporters were reliable detectors of toluene. A toluene concentration of 26.5 mg/L was detected after <30 min after immersion of the probe in the toluene solution. Additional experiments also immobilized constitutively bioluminescent cells of E. coli 652T7, on OFEs with polyethyleneimine (PEI). These OFEs were repetitively induced with Lauria-Bertani (LB) nutrient medium. Bioluminescence appeared 15 minutes after immersion of the OFE in LB. A change in pH from 7 to 6 resulted in a decrease in bioluminescence that was not restored following additional nutrient inductions at pH 7. The E. coli 652T7 OFE probe was therefore sensitive to negative influences but could not be repetitively used.

Environmental Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review on Optical Waveguide and Fiber-Based Sensors

“…These fibers significantly improved our capacity to design optical fields with low loss, high compactness, flexible redirection, and a significantly longer light-matter interaction length, opening a new area for optical sensing known as optical fiber sensing. Although optical sensing technology, one of the most prominent sensor systems to date, has been around for 50 years and has been well-established, optical fiber sensing technology is actively evolving and continuously increasing to new application areas [ 106 , 107 ]. It has seen extensive application throughout the years in the industry, as well as in the surveillance of the environment, biology, chemistry, and health [ 108 , 109 ].…”

Advances in Tapered Optical Fiber Sensor Structures: From Conventional to Novel and Emerging

“…Researchers have also shown interest in TOF sensors that are immobilized with cell layers. Tapered fiber optic sensors attached to Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioluminescent bioreporters were designed by Zajíc et al [ 53 ]. The cell layer was attached to the fiber surface by (3-aminopropyl) triethoxy silane modification.…”