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There is a growing interest in the development of sensitive, portable, and low-cost instrumentation for optical chemical (bio)sensing. Such instrumentation can allow real-time decision-making for industry, farmers, and researchers. The combination of optical fiber schemes, luminescence spectroscopy techniques, and new materials for sensor immobilization has allowed the growth of optical sensors. This article focuses on the development of low-cost optoelectronic instrumentation and measurement strategies for optical chemical (bio)sensing. Most of the articles in this field have focused on the chemical sensors themselves, although few have covered the design process for optoelectronic instrumentation. This article tries to fill this gap by presenting designs for real applications, as carried out by the authors. We also offer an introduction to the optical devices and optical measurement techniques used in this field to allow a full understanding of the applications.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of biomarkers that can be present in different biological samples, which can be related to many diseases. Controlled aggregation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in the presence of miRNAs can be used to perform a rapid detection of miRNAs based on color change. Sometimes the color change can be observed with the naked eye; however, this is not always possible. This work proposes the design of a novel instrumental prototype that allows performance of simultaneous transmittance measurements at different wavelengths. Once the signals are obtained, the system calculates the 525nm/650nm transmittance ratio and the miRNA concentration, displaying and recording the results in a smartphone. This prototype has been validated to detect the miRNA "miR146a," which is found in higher concentrations in milk and tissues in cases of bovine mastitis.

The microbiological quality of drinking water is a concern to consumers, water suppliers, regulators, and public health authorities alike. Monitoring the microbiological quality of drinking water largely relies on the examination of indicator bacteria such as coliforms like Escherichia coli . E. coli is widely used as an indicator of fecal pollution when monitoring the microbial quality of drinking water, because it is abundant in all mammal feces and, therefore, is found in sewage and in natural waters contaminated with fecal matter, from human origin, wild animals, or derived from agricultural activity. This paper describes the development of a novel handheld fluorimeter for the rapid detection of E. coli in drinking water based on a specific cellular biomarker. The measurement system is based on a photomultiplier tube that captures the fluorescence signal produced by the cellular biomarker when it is excited by an ultraviolet LED. The cellular biomarker is also developed and it consists of a chimeric protein with a Green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the N-terminal domain and a specific amino acid sequence in the C-terminal domain (Colicin S4) that targets specifically the structure of the microorganism to be detected. The instrument is simple to use, lightweight, and can be powered by either an ac/dc power adapter or a rechargeable battery, making it an excellent choice for the rapid detection of E. coli in drinking water in field studies and laboratory measurements.

Photoinduced fluorescence enhancement of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) is a hot topic addressed in many studies due to its great influence on the bioanalytical performance of such nanoparticles. However, understanding of this process is not a simple task, and it cannot be explained by a general mechanism as it greatly depends on the QDs' nature, solubilization strategies, surrounding environment, etc. In this vein, we have critically compared the behavior of CdSe QDs (widely used in bioanalytical applications) with different surface modifications (ligand exchange and polymer coating), in different controlled experimental conditions, in the presence-absence of the ZnS layer and in different media when exposed for long times to intense UV irradiation. Thus six different types of colloidal QDs were finally studied. This research was carried out from a novel perspective, based on the analysis of the dynamic behavior of the photoactivation process (of great interest for further applications of QDs as labels in biomedical applications). The results showed a different behavior of the studied colloidal QDs after UV irradiation in terms of their photoluminescence characteristics, potential toxicity due to metal release to the environment, nanoparticle stability and surface coating degradation.