Nanomaterial-Based Rapid Biosensor Development for Pathogen Detection in Treated Drinking Water Systems

Abstract

Rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic microorganisms in treated drinking water systems is essential for ensuring public health safety and maintaining water quality standards. Conventional microbiological detection techniques often require extensive laboratory processing time and may not provide real-time monitoring capability for distributed water supply systems. This study presents the development of a nanomaterial-based rapid biosensor for pathogen detection in treated drinking water systems under varying operational conditions. The proposed biosensing platform integrates advanced nanomaterials, biorecognition elements, and electrochemical sensing technologies to enable highly sensitive, selective, and real-time identification of waterborne pathogens. A comprehensive experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of nanomaterial composition, surface functionalization, sensor architecture, target pathogen concentration, pH conditions, and signal transduction mechanisms on biosensor performance and detection efficiency. Advanced nanostructured materials were incorporated to improve surface area, electrical conductivity, and biomolecular interaction, thereby enhancing sensitivity and reducing detection time. Performance evaluation demonstrated rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic microorganisms with high specificity and low detection limits compared to conventional analytical methods. The developed biosensor also exhibited strong operational stability, repeatability, and resistance to interference from common water quality constituents during continuous monitoring applications. Comparative analysis revealed substantial improvements in response time, portability, and real-time monitoring capability suitable for decentralized drinking water quality assessment.