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Plant Nanobionic Sensors for Arsenic Detection
Author(s) -
Lew Tedrick Thomas Salim,
Park Minkyung,
Cui Jianqiao,
Strano Michael S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202005683
Subject(s) - arsenic , nanosensor , arsenite , pollutant , environmental chemistry , materials science , environmental science , nanotechnology , remote sensing , biology , ecology , chemistry , metallurgy , geology
Arsenic is a highly toxic heavy‐metal pollutant which poses a significant health risk to humans and other ecosystems. In this work, the natural ability of wild‐type plants to pre‐concentrate and extract arsenic from the belowground environment is exploited to engineer plant nanobionic sensors for real‐time arsenic detection. Near‐infrared fluorescent nanosensors are specifically designed for sensitive and selective detection of arsenite. These optical nanosensors are embedded in plant tissues to non‐destructively access and monitor the internal dynamics of arsenic taken up by the plants via the roots. The integration of optical nanosensors with living plants enables the conversion of plants into self‐powered autosamplers of arsenic from their environment. Arsenite detection is demonstrated with three different plant species as nanobionic sensors. Based on an experimentally validated kinetic model, the nanobionic sensor could detect 0.6 and 0.2 ppb levels of arsenic after 7 and 14 days respectively by exploiting the natural ability of Pteris cretica ferns to hyperaccumulate and tolerate exceptionally high level of arsenic. The sensor readout could also be interfaced with portable electronics at a standoff distance, potentially enabling applications in environmental monitoring and agronomic research.