Field-deployable, lyophilized cell-free biosensor for robust and selective detection of inorganic arsenic in complex seaweed matrices.

Authors

Da-Sol Jeong, Taeok Kim, Minseok Cha, Hyewon Lee, Soo-Jung Kim

Published in

Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.). Volume 241. Pages 119766. Oct 01, 2026. Epub Jun 15, 2026.

Abstract

Current on-site arsenic monitoring is hindered by cold-chain dependence and biosafety risks. We developed a field-deployable cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) biosensor for the rapid, selective detection of toxic inorganic arsenic in seaweed matrices (Sargassum fusiforme and Porphyra sp.). An ArsR-regulated genetic circuit enables effective discrimination between inorganic and organic arsenic species. A tailored lyophilization strategy eliminated the need for ultra-low temperature storage, retaining ∼70% activity over four weeks at room temperature. Notably, freeze-drying serendipitously suppressed leaky expression, reducing background noise by 8-fold compared to liquid controls. Validated through spike-and-recovery tests in real seaweed extracts, this cold-chain-free, highly sensitive platform represents a significant advancement for decentralized food safety monitoring and environmental screening.

PMID:
42562533
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Aug 2026.

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