Endophytic fungi-based biosensors for environmental contaminants-A perspective
Zeba Khanam, Shubhpriya Gupta, Anamika Verma
Abstract
Nature's degradation and environmental concerns have triggered the enormous interest among the researchers to pursue a sustainable solution for environmental monitoring. Combining biotechnology and analytical techniques encourage developing advanced biosensors to significantly improve the environmental monitoring at a lower cost. Herein, we made an effort to shed some light on endophytic fungi in biosensing applications based on optical and electrochemical detection signal mechanisms. Biosensors are hybrid devices that can generate specific qualitative or quantitative sensing signal about target analyte concentration (such as heavy metal or chemical toxicant in a sample) by integrating biological or biomimetic detection element with the physical/chemical transducer. There are only a few studies reported for the endophytes application in biosensor, which we have summarized in the current perspective. Concisely, endophytes are rich sources of metabolites that can be utilized for the biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles which can be further incorporated in sensing devices. In addition, the enzymatic extracts of endophytic fungi can be directly applied as bio-receptors upon immobilization. The studies on the endophytic fungi based sensing element indicates its potential use for efficient monitoring and treatment of emerging contaminants in the environment.