Pharmaceutical drugs are frequently disposed of incorrectly, which allows them to enter the wastewater system. Since most treatment facilities are unable to effectively identify or break down these substances, medications end up polluting rivers and oceans.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and diclofenac, along with estrogens, affect fish populations and destabilize the ecological balance of aquatic environments.
The accumulation of these pollutants endangers biodiversity and can cause long-term damage to water bodies. While research on the direct effects on human health is ongoing, concerns about potential indirect harm are growing.
Biosensors
We aim to develop a biosensor to detect diclofenac using the Pdr5 promoter, which activates in the presence of diclofenac. This promoter has been modified to control a GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) reporter gene.
Research shows that ibuprofen lowers tryptophan levels in cells by destabilising an important protein called Tat2p, which is responsible for transporting tryptophan. This damage causes changes in other genes that could be used to detect this effect in biosensors.
