A light-sensitive protein-based wearable pH biometer

Abstract

Bacteriorhodopsin is a biological material with excellent photosensitivity properties. It can directly convert optical signals into electrical signals and is widely used in various biosensors. Here, we present a bR-based wearable pH biometer that can be used to monitor wound infection. The mechanism of the pH-sensitive effect of the bR electrode is explained, which generates a transient photovoltage under light irradiation and a negative photovoltage when the lamp is turned off. Since the photoelectric signal of bR is affected by different pH values, the photovoltage is changed by adjusting the pH value. The ratio (V_n/V_p) of negative photovoltage (V_n) to positive photovoltage (V_p) has a good linear relationship (R² = 0.9911) in the pH range of 4.0–10.0. In vitro experiments using rats as a model confirmed that this wearable pH biometer can monitor pH changes that occur in wound infection.