Whole Cells of Microorganisms-A Powerful Bioanalytical Tool for Measuring Integral Parameters of Pollution: A Review.

Microbial biosensors are bioanalytical devices that can measure the toxicity of pollutants or detect specific substances. This is the greatest advantage of microbial biosensors which use whole cells of microorganisms as powerful tools for measuring integral parameters of environmental pollution. This review explores the core principles of microbial biosensors including biofuel devices, emphasizing their capacity to evaluate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), toxicity, heavy metals, surfactants, phenols, pesticides, inorganic pollutants, and microbiological contamination. However, practical challenges, such as sensitivity to environmental factors like pH, salinity, and the presence of competing substances, continue to hinder their broader application and long-term stability. The performance of these biosensors is closely tied to both technological advancement and the scientific understanding of biological systems, which influence data interpretation and device optimization. The review further examines cutting-edge developments, including the integration of electroactive biofilms with nanomaterials, molecular biology techniques, and artificial intelligence, all of which significantly enhance biosensor functionality and analytical accuracy. Commercial implementations and improvement strategies are also discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in this field. Overall, this work consolidates recent progress and identifies both the potential and limitations of microbial biosensors, offering valuable insights into their future development for environmental monitoring.