Light-sensitive biosensors based on photoactive marine cultivated strains

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to construct imaging pixels using novel bioactive films. Despite the notable progress in electronic imaging devices, these sensors still cannot compete with biological vision counterparts such as the human eye. Light sensitive biolayers and pigments in living organisms show superior performance in terms of low noise operation and speed. Although photoactive biolayers have been used to construct electronic imaging devices, they are usually hard to develop, and the organisms that produce these active layers have low growth rates. Design/methodology/approach – Among 40 pigment producing prokaryotic marine bacteria, four strains which show faster growth rates in the presence of light are screened and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and visible absorption. Subsequently, they are used as active layers in light sensitive sensors. The performance of the obtained cells is eventually evaluated by time domain photoresponse measurements. Findings – It is shown that while the obtained strains have high growth rates and their mass volume reproduction is relatively simple, they provide many interesting characteristics such as high speed and low noise operation when incorporated as photosensitive layers. Originality/value – Because the mass reproduction of the obtained cultures is simple, they are an appropriate choice for use in planner and flexible document imaging devices and DNA microarray sensors.