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Low-Cost Chemosensors for Applications in Environment, Health, Food, and Industry Process Control, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2026 | Viewed by 3668

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Low-cost sensing refers to the use of affordable sensors to detect and measure the presence of chemicals. These sensors can be used in a wide variety of applications, including environmental monitoring, healthcare, food quality and safety, and industrial process control. Low-cost sensing technologies include, but are not limited to, the following: gas sensors in applications such as air quality monitoring, leak detection in industrial settings, or breath analysis in medical diagnostics; pH sensors used from water quality testing to food and beverage production; biosensors that use enzymes or antibodies to detect specific chemical compounds in medical diagnostics; colorimetric sensors that respond to a specific chemical reaction for integrated test kits; and electronic noses with an array of chemical sensors to mimic the function of the human nose, identifying complex smells and tastes for food quality control or disease diagnosis.

Low-cost sensing can democratize access to important data and enable more widespread monitoring of chemical substances. However, like other low-cost sensing technologies, they may have limitations in terms of their accuracy, sensitivity, and selectivity compared to more expensive, laboratory-grade instruments. To overcome such disadvantages, recent developments in low-cost sensing have been driven by advances in materials science, nanotechnology, and information technologies, with key trends such as nanomaterials, printed electronics, paper-based sensors, wearable devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), making sensing more accessible, affordable, and effective, opening up new possibilities for monitoring and managing chemical substances in commercial products, the environment, and our bodies.

This Special Issue will encompass original research and reviews to benefit interested readers with knowledge of the state-of-the-art in low-cost sensing.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Chemosensors.

Dr. Weiying Lu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • low-cost
  • chemosensors
  • sensors
  • food analysis
  • gas sensor
  • pH sensor
  • medical diagnostics
  • colorimetric sensors
  • electronic nose
  • healthcare
  • environmental monitoring

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1910 KB  
Article
GC-MS and E-Nose Analysis of Office Paper: Discriminating Paper Origin Using Multivariate Analysis
by Marta I. S. Veríssimo, Elvira Gaspar and Maria Teresa S. R. Gomes
Sensors 2026, 26(7), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26072049 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from hardwood papers are associated with cellulose fibers, paper fillers, and the manufacturing process used. Volatiles emitted from samples of office (printing and writing) papers from various brands and countries were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and [...] Read more.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from hardwood papers are associated with cellulose fibers, paper fillers, and the manufacturing process used. Volatiles emitted from samples of office (printing and writing) papers from various brands and countries were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and an electronic nose (e-nose) based on piezoelectric quartz crystals. Dodecanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester (isopropyl dodecanoate) and nonanal have shown to be the dominant compounds in most of the samples analyzed, regardless of the pulpwood used in paper manufacturing: Eucalyptus globulus, acacia, and birch. 3-Hydroxybutanone was detected only in Spanish papers, suggesting it as a potential marker. Additionally, the content in acetic acid enables the identification of recycled paper. Full article
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14 pages, 1635 KB  
Article
In Situ Determination of Chlorella Concentration Using Single Entity Electrochemistry
by Changhui Lee, Gayeon Lee and Jun Hui Park
Sensors 2026, 26(3), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26030915 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 537
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms pose significant risks to water resource management and aquatic ecosystem health, rendering early detection of algal bloom proliferation essential. In this study, we present an electrochemical strategy for the real-time detection of individual Chlorella cells using the single-particle collision method [...] Read more.
Harmful algal blooms pose significant risks to water resource management and aquatic ecosystem health, rendering early detection of algal bloom proliferation essential. In this study, we present an electrochemical strategy for the real-time detection of individual Chlorella cells using the single-particle collision method at an ultramicroelectrode (UME). The detection principle relies on monitoring changes in the redox probe flux at the UME induced by attachment of the target. Both diffusional and migrational transport were considered to promote particle collision at the UME. Detection sensitivity for negatively charged microalgae was enhanced by exploiting migration effects. To control migration strength, neutral and charged redox probes were selected, and the ionic strength was adjusted to tune electrostatic attraction, yielding microalgae capture on the UME with a collision frequency that depended on the solution composition. Conversely, migration was suppressed by increasing the ionic strength, and inverse migration was implemented, and resulting collision responses were compared. Furthermore, COMSOL Multiphysics simulations were used to estimate the size of detected Chlorella cells. The collision frequencies expected from diffusion and migration were compared with the experimental values, and a calibration curve relating collision frequency to Chlorella concentration was established. Consequently, this methodology provides a promising platform for the early monitoring of algal blooms by simultaneously determining microalgal size and concentration. Full article
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16 pages, 2201 KB  
Article
Electrochemical Immunodetection of Bacillus anthracis Spores
by Karolina Morawska, Tomasz Sikora, Aleksandra Nakonieczna, Renata Tyśkiewicz, Monika Wiśnik-Sawka, Łukasz Osuchowski, Paulina Osuchowska, Michał Grabka and Zygfryd Witkiewicz
Sensors 2025, 25(19), 5948; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25195948 - 24 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Bacillus anthracis as one of the most dangerous pathogens that may affect public health and national security. Due to its importance as a potential biological weapon, this bacteria has been classified in the highest [...] Read more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Bacillus anthracis as one of the most dangerous pathogens that may affect public health and national security. Due to its importance as a potential biological weapon, this bacteria has been classified in the highest category A, together with such pathogens as variola virus or botulinum neurotoxin. Characteristic features of this pathogen that increase its military importance are the ease of its cultivation, transport, and storage and its ability to create survival forms that are extremely resistant to environmental conditions. However, beyond bioterrorism, B. anthracis is also a naturally occurring pathogen. Anthrax outbreaks occur in livestock and wildlife, particularly in spore-contaminated regions of Africa, Asia, and North America. Spores persist for decades, leading to recurrent infections and zoonotic transmission through direct contact, inhalation, or consumption of contaminated meat. This work presents a new electrochemical method for detecting and quantifying B. anthracis in spore form using a selective immune reaction. The developed method is based on the thiol-modified electrodes that constitute the sensing element of the electrochemical system. Tests with the B. anthracis spore suspension showed that the detection limit for this pathogen is as low as 103 CFU/mL. Furthermore, it was possible to quantify the analyte with a sensitivity of 11 mV/log (CFU/mL). Due to several features, such as low unit cost, portability, and minimal apparatus demands, this method can be easily implemented in field analyzers for this pathogen and provides an alternative to currently used techniques and devices. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 1686 KB  
Review
Mushroom-Derived Hydrophobins for Antifouling and Interface Preservation in Chemosensors
by Nardos F. Bisrat, Bethany R. Finnefrock, Matthew D. Gacura, Longyan Chen and Davide Piovesan
Sensors 2026, 26(5), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26051642 - 5 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 572
Abstract
Surface fouling remains a critical challenge for medical devices and chemosensor systems operating in biological environments, where nonspecific adsorption of proteins, cells, and microorganisms can lead to signal drift, reduced sensitivity, and shortened device lifetime. Conventional antifouling strategies rely primarily on synthetic hydrophilic [...] Read more.
Surface fouling remains a critical challenge for medical devices and chemosensor systems operating in biological environments, where nonspecific adsorption of proteins, cells, and microorganisms can lead to signal drift, reduced sensitivity, and shortened device lifetime. Conventional antifouling strategies rely primarily on synthetic hydrophilic polymer coatings, such as polyethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, which are effective but face limitations related to long-term stability, thickness, and compatibility with surface-sensitive sensing modalities. In this review, we focus on hydrophobins derived from mushroom-forming and filamentous fungi as a bio-based alternative for antifouling and anti-wetting surface modification. Mushroom-derived hydrophobins are small amphiphilic proteins capable of spontaneous self-assembly into nanometer-scale films that modulate surface energy, wettability, and interfacial friction without requiring covalent functionalization. The current state of research on hydrophobin structure, classification, and self-assembly is reviewed, followed by a synthesis of reported antifouling and tribological behaviors relevant to medical and sensor-adjacent surfaces. Representative experimental observations are discussed to illustrate trends consistent with the literature, without establishing new performance benchmarks. The implications of mushroom-derived hydrophobin coatings for chemosensors and biosensors are examined, particularly with respect to signal stability, surface accessibility, and durability. Limitations and future research directions are outlined to support translation into practical sensing technologies. Full article
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