QSMiD

Abstract

Microplastics are one of the most damaging and lasting legacies emerged from plastic pollution. Identification of microplastics in complex environmental matrices remains a challenge. In this study, we engineered a whole-cell biosensor based on the LasI-LasR quorum sensing system to detect and quantitatively measure the presence of quorum sensing molecules, N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) molecules secreted from P. aeruginosa for the detection of microplastic pollution levels in water samples. The engineered whole-cell biosensor had a strong GFP expression within 3 hours in the presence of AHL molecules, 3OC₁₂-HSL and C₁₀HSL as low as 1x10^-11M. In addition, the engineered biosensor had a high sensitivity in response to 3OC₁₂-HSL with an EC₅₀ value of 2.823 x 10^-11M. The engineered biosensor has potential applications to provide a rapid, sensitive and quantitative detection of the microplastic pollution levels in environmental samples.