Biosensors for unattended, cost-effective and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution: Automated Water Analyser Computer Supported System (AWACSS) and River Analyser (RIANA)

This work describes our recent progress and achievements in the field of fully automated biosensors (Automated Water Analyser Computer Supported System (AWACSS) and River Analyser (RIANA)) for unattended, cost-effective and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution. We report on ultra-sensitive immunoassays for the hormones progesterone, testosterone and estrone and the pesticides propanil and isoproturon as examples of the outstanding progress made on biosensors in the field of environmental monitoring and water analysis. Most of the bio-active organic pollutants (estrone, progesterone, propanil and isoproturon) were detected at levels as low as 1.0 pg mL−1 or even below. In fact, the reported limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.2 and 6.0 pg mL−1. For the first time, commercially available derivatives and antibodies were incorporated into immunoassays (progesterone and testosterone) for fully automated biosensors. To verify the assay performance for quantifying testosterone, progesterone, and isoproturon in real-world samples using our immunosensors, we spiked river and drinking water at six different levels from 0.9 pg mL−1 to 90 ng mL−1. Nearly all recovery rates could be obtained between 70 and 120% as the AOAC International recommends it chiefly for water analysis.