Rationally modified estrogen receptor protein as a bio-recognition element for the detection of EDC pollutants: strategies and opportunities

The estrogen receptor protein (ER) can bind a vast number of organic pollutants widely spread in the environment and collectively known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, EDCs. Its broad selectivity makes it an ideal bio-recognition element for the detection of EDCs. Here we describe the strategy and rationale for the design of ER based biosensors and assays that generate a signal in the presence of EDCs. The opportunity to use either natural or rationally modified ER molecules is discussed. The latter approach was successfully applied in the EU-FP7 project RADAR, with the aim to develop a novel biosensor for the detection of organic pollutants both in the environment and in commercial water products

Self-referenced waveguide grating sensor

Like any other sensor system, performances of waveguide grating couplers are affected by adverse effects such as noise and drift, mainly limiting the devices’ resolution and long-term stability. It is therefore often required to reference the measurement with a secondary, parallel sensor to decrease these undesired influences. Here we present a simple but effective method to self-reference a label-free waveguide grating coupler by partially coating and thereby passivating the sensitive area with an inert layer. The presented waveguide grating chip design offers the advantage of internal self-referencing for adverse effects, such as inherent system instabilities, mechanical disturbance, or temperature drift, without the need of a sacrificial reference channel

Rationally Modified Estrogen Receptor Protein as a Bio-Recognition Element for the Detection of EDC Pollutants: Strategies and Opportunities

The estrogen receptor protein (ER) can bind a vast number of organic pollutants widely spread in the environment and collectively known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, EDCs. Its broad selectivity makes it an ideal bio-recognition element for the detection of EDCs. Here we describe the strategy and rationale for the design of ER based biosensors and assays that generate a signal in the presence of EDCs. The opportunity to use either natural or rationally modified ER molecules is discussed. The latter approach was successfully applied in the EU-FP7 project RADAR, with the aim to develop a novel biosensor for the detection of organic pollutants both in the environment and in commercial water products

Introduction of an angle interrogated, MEMS-based, optical waveguide grating system for label-free biosensing

The presented label-free optical biosensor system relies on a MEMS micro-mirror to interrogate waveguide grating regions at a high repetition rate in the kHz range by scanning the angle of the incident coherent light. The angle-tunable MEMS mirror permits an extended scanning range and offers the flexibility to measure at various wavelengths and optical powers – an interesting feature for an enhanced surface-to-bulk sensitivity ratio and extended, multiplexed sensor arrays. An excellent refractometric sensitivity with a limit of detection towards effective refractive index changes of Δneff 150 kDa) and small (<250 Da) molecules. With fully-integrated optics, electronics and fluidics, the compact, low-power and affordable sensor unit is well-suited for in situ environmental monitoring or point-of-care diagnostics