Dr. rer. nat. Michel Oelschlägel
+49 3731 39-2325
Dr. rer. nat. Helena Fuchs
+49 3731 39-2103

The Styrene BioSense project aims to develop a biosensor capable of reliably, rapidly, and affordably detecting styrene - a hazardous industrial chemical proven to be carcinogenic and DNA-damaging. While current standard analytical methods such as gas and liquid chromatography require equipment investments in the five- to six-digit range and are complex to operate and maintain, our approach offers a significantly more affordable, simpler, and scalable alternative. Instead of relying on expensive reagents or intricate instrumentation, we propose utilizing a biological system that produces a clear color change (blue indigo) in the presence of styrene. This visual rapid test enables applications such as high-throughput screening. Furthermore, an optional biosensor is envisioned that generates a measurable electrical signal instead of a visually detectable color change, allowing for precise quantitative analysis - while capital expenditures remain more than seven times lower than those of established analytical methods.

A key technological advantage of our solution over the only existing styrene biosensor lies in its higher specificity for the target pollutant, styrene. Previous systems have frequently produced false-positive results for structurally similar compounds (such as toluene and phenylethanol). Additionally, the existing system depends on costly additives (e.g., X-Gal), whereas our approach relies on inexpensive standard growth media. The proposed concept of a visual (and optionally electrical) styrene detection system based on a whole-cell biosensor is designed as a modular "building block" platform. This opens the potential for future adaptation to detect other organic pollutants or heavy metals. This scalability presents additional market and application opportunities, especially as environmental regulations, occupational safety standards, and recycling strategies become increasingly stringent worldwide.