The research team, led by Assistant Professor Enver Cagri Izgu, employed a chemical mechanism where the binding of inorganic chemicals to a receptor generates light, enabling the detection of substances such as hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide within living Escherichia coli cells.

The implications of this research are significant, with potential applications in monitoring environmental toxins and diagnosing various diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.

A major goal of the research is to adapt this technology to transform human cells into sensor cells capable of monitoring disease-related chemicals without being rejected by the body.

In pursuit of this innovation, Izgu and co-author Tushar Aggarwal have filed a patent application, with contributions from other Rutgers scientists, including doctoral students and a former postdoctoral associate.

Their study, published in 'Angewandte Chemie International Edition,' outlines the implementation of RNA in bacterial cells to successfully identify short-lived inorganic chemicals that are typically difficult to sense.

Scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have developed an innovative biosensor that utilizes RNA to detect minute environmental chemicals critical to human health.

This work builds on earlier findings from 2011 that demonstrated RNA's ability to bind small molecules and produce light, thereby expanding the potential applications of RNA in sensing technologies.

Izgu envisions a future where patients could provide cell samples that are converted into these sensor cells, allowing for real-time detection of harmful chemicals.