The application and demonstration of a user-friendly, antibody-based biosensor for environmental monitoring

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a valuable resource in both clinical and environmental health. In clinical applications, mAbs have been extensively used as a diagnostic tool for the rapid evaluation of specific diseases and in targeted anti-cancer therapies, among others. Recently, mAbs have been employed in environmental monitoring applications for the detection of oil, pesticides, and many other pollutants. MAb-based biosensors have become an excellent means to achieve rapid, sensitive monitoring of a specified target. Here I describe the application of a mAb employed in a portable, user-friendly, sensor format for the detection and quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples. PAHs are carcinogenic and found widespread in the environment. One application of this biosensor included the monitoring of estuarine water during the dredging of PAH-contaminated sediments, revealing a plume of PAHs emanating from the dredge site. The second application was the near real-time monitoring of PAHs in stormwater run-off. The ease of technology transfer was demonstrated by the operation of the biosensor by high school students in two science programs: VIMS/NASA Governor’s School Summer Internship and NSF’s GK-12 Program. Overall, these opportunities demonstrated the utility of this biosensor to rapidly and precisely quantify PAHs in environmental samples. Moreover, this biosensor technology was successfully operated by non-professionals.