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Bioluminescence goes portable: recent advances in whole‐cell and cell‐free bioluminescence biosensors
Author(s) -
Lopreside Antonia,
Calabretta Maria Maddalena,
Montali Laura,
Zangheri Martina,
Guardigli Massimo,
Mirasoli Mara,
Michelini Elisa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
luminescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1522-7243
pISSN - 1522-7235
DOI - 10.1002/bio.3948
Subject(s) - bioluminescence , bioluminescence imaging , biosensor , nanotechnology , synthetic biology , optogenetics , biochemical engineering , computer science , computational biology , chemistry , biology , engineering , luciferase , materials science , neuroscience , biochemistry , transfection , gene
Recent advancements in synthetic biology, organic chemistry, and computational models have allowed the application of bioluminescence in several fields, ranging from well established methods for detecting microbial contamination to in vivo imaging to track cancer and stem cells, from cell‐based assays to optogenetics. Moreover, thanks to recent technological progress in miniaturized and sensitive light detectors, such as photodiodes and imaging sensors, it is possible to implement laboratory‐based assays, such as cell‐based and enzymatic assays, into portable analytical devices for point‐of‐care and on‐site applications. This review highlights some recent advances in the development of whole‐cell and cell‐free bioluminescence biosensors with a glance on current challenges and different strategies that have been used to turn bioassays into biosensors with the required analytical performance. Critical issues and unsolved technical problems are also highlighted, to give the reader a taste of this fascinating and challenging field.