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Biosensors
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Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition)
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Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors and Healthcare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 5018

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Georgia Moschopoulou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food, Biotechnology and Development (TBA), Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: cell-based biosensors; cell and neuronal differentiation; real-time monitoring systems; high-throughput screening or diagnostics systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cells, as biorecognition elements, have many advantages such as sensitivity and rapid response to various stimuli. During the last decade, researchers have achieved progress in improving the selectivity of cells against desired target analytes as well as their integration into biosensors, which have led to their use in many applications. For this reason, cell-based biosensors represent one of the most advanced and, at the same time, challenging scientific and technological domains in analytical and diagnostic sciences. The most popular application is in toxicology research but, due to selectivity improvement, they are also used as analytical devices for specific molecules. This Biosensors Special Issue on “Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring” is intended to be a timely and comprehensive Issue on very recent and emerging technologies in the fascinating field of cell-based biosensors for the rapid detection of molecules such as biomarkers, environmental pollutants, etc., and/or the monitoring of cell physiology in response to pharmacological or environmental stimuli. Topics include, but are not restricted to, cell-based methodological approaches, synthetic cell manufacturing (targeted genome editing, genetic circuits, membrane engineering, etc.), integration of cell-based biosensors into platforms, and current applications and perspectives for cell-based biosensors and analytical devices for toxicology and drug research, such as lab-on-a-chip or organ-like cultures. Research papers, short communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Georgia Moschopoulou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • analytical devices
  • bioelectric
  • cell-based biosensors
  • enviromental pollutants
  • food safety
  • impedimetric biosensors
  • medical diagnostics
  • microbial fuel cells
  • toxicology
  • synthetic cells

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1388 KB  
Article
A Proof-of-Concept Study on Bioelectric-Based Biosensing for Prostate-Specific Antigen Detection in Serum Samples
by Georgios Giannakos, Sofia Marka, Konstantina Georgoulia, Spyridon Kintzios and Georgia Moschopoulou
Biosensors 2025, 15(8), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15080503 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1255
Abstract
Prostate cancer is among the most prevalent malignancies in men worldwide, underscoring the need for early and accurate diagnostic tools. This study presents a proof-of-concept and pilot clinical validation of a novel bioelectric impedance-based biosensor for the detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in [...] Read more.
Prostate cancer is among the most prevalent malignancies in men worldwide, underscoring the need for early and accurate diagnostic tools. This study presents a proof-of-concept and pilot clinical validation of a novel bioelectric impedance-based biosensor for the detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human serum. The system integrates Molecular Identification through Membrane Engineering (MIME) with the xCELLigence real-time cell analysis platform, employing Vero cells electroinserted with anti-PSA antibodies. Optimization experiments identified 15,000 cells/well as the optimal configuration for impedance response. The biosensor exhibited specific, concentration-dependent changes in impedance upon exposure to PSA standard solutions and demonstrated significant differentiation between PSA-positive and PSA-negative human serum samples relative to the clinical threshold of 4 ng/mL. The biosensor offered rapid results within one minute, unlike standard immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), while showing strong diagnostic agreement. The system’s specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility support its potential for integration into point-of-care screening workflows. This bioelectric assay represents one of the fastest PSA detection approaches reported to date and offers a promising solution for reducing overdiagnosis while improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition))
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16 pages, 5026 KB  
Article
Enhancing Biomarker Detection and Imaging Performance of Smartphone Fluorescence Microscopy Devices
by Muhammad Ahsan Sami, Muhammad Nabeel Tahir and Umer Hassan
Biosensors 2025, 15(7), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070403 - 21 Jun 2025
Viewed by 594
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy enabled by smartphone-coupled 3D instruments has shown utility in different biomedical applications ranging from diagnostics to biomanufacturing. Recently, we have designed and developed these devices and have demonstrated their utility in micro-nano particle sensing and leukocyte imaging. Here, we present a [...] Read more.
Fluorescence microscopy enabled by smartphone-coupled 3D instruments has shown utility in different biomedical applications ranging from diagnostics to biomanufacturing. Recently, we have designed and developed these devices and have demonstrated their utility in micro-nano particle sensing and leukocyte imaging. Here, we present a novel application for enhancing the imaging performance of smartphone fluorescence microscopes (SFM) and reducing their operational complexity. Computational noise correction is employed using 3D Averaging and 3D Gaussian filters of different kernel sizes (3 × 3 × 3, 7 × 7 × 7, 11 × 11 × 11, 15 × 15 × 15, and 21 × 21 × 21) and various standard deviations σ (for Gaussian only). Fluorescent beads of different sizes (8.3, 2, 1, 0.8 µm) were imaged using a custom-designed SFM. The application of the computational filters significantly enhanced the signal quality of particle detection in the captured fluorescent images. Amongst the Averaging filters, a kernel size of 21 × 21 × 21 produced the best results for all bead sizes, and similarly, amongst Gaussian filters, σ equal to 5 and a kernel size equal to 21 × 21 × 21 produced the best results. This visual improvement was then quantified by calculating the signal-difference-to-noise ratio (SDNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of filtered and unfiltered original images using a custom-developed quality assessment algorithm (AQAFI). Lastly, noise correction using Averaging and Gaussian filters with the previously identified optimal parameters was applied to images of fluorescently tagged human peripheral blood leukocytes captured using an SFM under various conditions. The ubiquitous nature and simplistic application of these filters enable their utility with a range of existing fluorescence microscope designs, thus allowing us to enhance their imaging capabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition))
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14 pages, 2190 KB  
Article
Flow-Based Dielectrophoretic Biosensor for Detection of Bacteriophage MS2 as a Foodborne Virus Surrogate
by Inae Lee, Heejin So, Kacie K. H. Y. Ho, Yong Li and Soojin Jun
Biosensors 2025, 15(6), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15060353 - 3 Jun 2025
Viewed by 775
Abstract
Norovirus, a foodborne pathogen, causes a significant economic and health burden globally. Although detection methods exist, they are expensive and non-field deployable. A flow-based dielectrophoretic biosensor was designed for the detection of foodborne pathogenic viruses and was tested using bacteriophage MS2 as a [...] Read more.
Norovirus, a foodborne pathogen, causes a significant economic and health burden globally. Although detection methods exist, they are expensive and non-field deployable. A flow-based dielectrophoretic biosensor was designed for the detection of foodborne pathogenic viruses and was tested using bacteriophage MS2 as a norovirus surrogate. The flow-based MS2 sensor comprises a concentrator and a detector. The concentrator is an interdigitated electrode array designed to impart dielectrophoretic effects to manipulate viral particles toward the detector in a fluidic channel. The detector is made of a silver electrode conjugated with anti-MS2 IgG to allow for antibody–antigen biorecognition events and is supplied with the electrical current for the purpose of measurement. Serially diluted MS2 suspensions were continuously injected into the fluidic channel at 0.1 mL/min. A cyclic voltammogram indicated that current measurements from single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-coated electrodes increased compared to uncoated electrodes. Additionally, a drop in the current measurements after antibody immobilization and MS2 capture was observed with the developed electrodes. Antibody immobilization at the biorecognition site provided greater current changes with the antibody-MS2 complexes vs. the assays without antibodies. The electric field applied to the fluidic channel at 10 Vpp and 1 MHz contributed to an increase in current changes in response to MS2 bound on the detector and was dependent on the MS2 concentrations in the sample. The developed biosensor was able to detect MS2 with a sensitivity of 102 PFU/mL within 15 min. Overall, this work demonstrates a proof of concept for a rapid and field-deployable strategy to detect foodborne pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition))
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Review

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21 pages, 1147 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Developing Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics and Environmental Monitoring
by Tyler P. Green, Joseph P. Talley and Bradley C. Bundy
Biosensors 2025, 15(8), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15080499 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1153
Abstract
Cell-free biosensors harness the selectivity of cellular machinery without living cells’ constraints, offering advantages in environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and biotechnological applications. This review examines recent advances in cell-free biosensor development, highlighting their ability to detect diverse analytes including heavy metals, organic pollutants, [...] Read more.
Cell-free biosensors harness the selectivity of cellular machinery without living cells’ constraints, offering advantages in environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and biotechnological applications. This review examines recent advances in cell-free biosensor development, highlighting their ability to detect diverse analytes including heavy metals, organic pollutants, pathogens, and clinical biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. We analyze technological innovations in cell-free protein synthesis optimization, preservation strategies, and field deployment methods that have enhanced sensitivity, and practical applicability. The integration of synthetic biology approaches has enabled complex signal processing, multiplexed detection, and novel sensor designs including riboswitches, split reporter systems, and metabolic sensing modules. Emerging materials such as supported lipid bilayers, hydrogels, and artificial cells are expanding biosensor capabilities through microcompartmentalization and electronic integration. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in standardization, sample interference mitigation, and cost reduction. Future opportunities include smartphone integration, enhanced preservation methods, and hybrid sensing platforms. Cell-free biosensors hold particular promise for point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings, environmental monitoring applications, and food safety testing, representing essential tools for addressing global challenges in healthcare, environmental protection, and biosecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition))
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20 pages, 16333 KB  
Review
The Burgeoning Importance of Nanomotion Sensors in Microbiology and Biology
by Marco Girasole and Giovanni Longo
Biosensors 2025, 15(7), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15070455 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 578
Abstract
Nanomotion sensors have emerged as a pivotal technology in microbiology and biology, leveraging advances in nanotechnology, microelectronics, and optics to provide a highly sensitive, label-free detection of biological activity and interactions. These sensors were first limited to nanomechanical oscillators like atomic force microscopy [...] Read more.
Nanomotion sensors have emerged as a pivotal technology in microbiology and biology, leveraging advances in nanotechnology, microelectronics, and optics to provide a highly sensitive, label-free detection of biological activity and interactions. These sensors were first limited to nanomechanical oscillators like atomic force microscopy cantilevers, but now they are expanding into new, more intriguing setups. The idea is to convert the inherent nanoscale movements of living organisms—a direct manifestation of their metabolic activity—into measurable signals. This review highlights the evolution and diverse applications of nanomotion sensing. Key methodologies include Atomic Force Microscopy-based sensors, optical nanomotion detection, graphene drum sensors, and optical fiber-based sensors, each offering unique advantages in sensitivity, cost, and applicability. The analysis of complex nanomotion data is increasingly supported by advanced modeling and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, enhancing pattern recognition and automation. The versatility and real-time, label-free nature of nanomotion sensing position it as a transformative tool that could revolutionize diagnostics, therapeutics, and fundamental biological research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell-Based Biosensors for Rapid Detection and Monitoring (2nd Edition))
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