biolusensors

Bioluminescence sensors, often abbreviated as bioluminescence biosensors or referred to as biolum sensors, are analytical devices that exploit the natural light‑emitting reactions of organisms such as fireflies, luminous bacteria, and marine algae. In a typical device, a bioluminescent reporter enzyme—for example, luciferase from Photinus pyralis or NanoLuc—catalyses a substrate such as luciferin, producing photons that are detected by a photomultiplier tube or a charge‑coupled device. The intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the concentration of the target analyte, which is coupled either directly to the bioluminescent enzyme or indirectly through a competitive binding event.

The core components of a bioluminescent sensor include the bioluminescent reporter, a substrate supply system, a detection module, and a signal‑processing unit. Recombinant engineering of luciferases has extended the range of detectable substrates and increased the quantum yield, enabling the quantification of very low analyte concentrations. Breadth of applications is extensive: environmental monitoring of pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides, diagnostics of clinical biomarkers including nucleic acids and proteins, and high‑throughput screening in pharmaceutical research.

Advantages of bioluminescent sensors over conventional fluorescence methods include the absence of external excitation light, which eliminates spectral overlap and photobleaching, and the ability to perform real‑time monitoring in living cells or organisms. Limitations include the relatively short half‑life of some fluorophores, sensitivity to oxygen availability, and potential interference from endogenous luminescence in complex matrices. Recent advances focus on synthetic biology approaches, integrating optogenetic control and multiplexed reporting, to further expand diagnostic capability and improve portability for field deployment.