ABSTRACT
Synthetically engineered cells are powerful and potentially useful biosensors, but it remains difficult to deploy such systems due to practical difficulties and biosafety concerns. To overcome these hurdles, we developed a microfluidic device that serves as an interface between an engineered cellular system, environment, and user. We created a biodisplay consisting of 768 individually programmable biopixels and demonstrated that it can perform multiplexed, continuous environmental monitoring. The biodisplay detected 10 μg/l sodium-arsenite in tap water using a research grade fluorescent microscope, and reported arsenic contamination down to 20 μg/l with an easy to interpret “skull and crossbones” symbol detectable with a low-cost USB microscope or by eye. No chemical or biological material is released by the biodisplay preventing environmental contamination. The microfluidic biodisplay thus provides a practical solution for the deployment and application of engineered cellular systems.
