Abstract

NEXT-GENERATION BIOSENSORS FOR RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING: ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES

Sukumar Reddy Bhuma*

Abstract

The rapid and accurate detection of environmental pollutants is crucial for safeguarding public health and preserving ecosystems. Traditional detection methods, while effective, often suffer from being timeconsuming, complex, and costly, necessitating the development of novel biosensor technologies. This review focuses on the advancements in biosensor technology for the rapid detection of environmental pollutants. Nanomaterial-based biosensors, which utilise nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and quantum dots, have significantly improved the sensitivity and selectivity of detection, enabling the identification of minute concentrations of harmful substances. Additionally, integrated with lab-on-a-chip technologies, microfluidic biosensors allow for real-time monitoring of multiple analytes in small sample volumes, making them ideal for environmental and clinical applications. Wearable and portable biosensors have revolutionized on-site detection, providing real-time data through devices easily transported to remote locations. Moreover, using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in biosensors offers a synthetic alternative to natural receptors, providing high specificity and stability. However, challenges such as selectivity, stability, scalability, and commercialization remain significant barriers to the widespread adoption of biosensor technologies. The future of biosensors lies in integrating artificial intelligence for enhanced data interpretation, developing multi-analyte sensors for simultaneous pollutant detection, and creating sustainable, eco-friendly designs. These innovations promise to make biosensors more accurate, efficient, and environmentally responsible, positioning them as essential tools for the future of environmental monitoring.

Keywords: Biosensors, Environmental Pollutants, Nanomaterials, Microfluidics, Wearable Sensors, Molecular Imprinting, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability.