International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 15, Issue 2

Application of Sustainable Microbial Techniques in Biomonitoring for Environmental Sustainability

Archita Tiwari1, Bharat Mishra2*, Bhupendra Singh3, Shrishti Mishra4 

1Faculty of Pharmacy, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Lucknow, UP, India

2Department of Pharmacology, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT Group of Institutions, Jalandhar, Punjab, India

4Department of Pharmaceutics, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, India 

Received: 4th Feb, 2025; Revised: 21st Mar, 2025; Accepted: 16th Apr, 2025; Available Online: 25th Jun, 2025  

ABSTRACT

The growing rates of pollution have been driving global warming, rising sea levels, and species extinction, impacting both developed and developing nations alike. Traditionally, chemical analysis of air, water, and soil was employed to detect pollutants. However, by the time harmful chemicals were identified in these environments, significant damage had already occurred, making remediation efforts challenging. Bioindicators refer to living organisms like plants, animals or microbes which mirror the changes in environment composition due to pollution. Monitoring species or organisms which are very sensitive to such environmental changes constitute biomonitoring. For these techniques such as PCR, microscopy, immunological assays, biosensors, and microfluidics are crucial for environmental sustainability. PCR detects microbial contaminants and assesses biodiversity, while microscopy identifies and monitors microorganisms. Immunological assays like ELISA and EIA detect specific toxins and track environmental changes. Biosensors offer real-time pollutant data, lateral flow assays provide rapid on-site testing, and microfluidics enable efficient, high-throughput analysis. ELFA offers high sensitivity for trace pollutants, and other serological assays help identify pathogens and assess pollution impacts, collectively improving pollution monitoring and ecosystem health. The effect of environmental pollutants reflects in the lower levels before it occurs in higher levels. Lower levels include cellular, molecular and physiological changes that occur as a result of pollution and known as biomarkers, which act as an early warning system for toxic pollutants. Microbial communities present in air, water and soil are one of the early bioindicators used for assessing the pollution levels. Evaluation methods include detecting, tracking and quantifying microbes; monitoring diversity indices of microbial communities and analysing specific metabolic pathways. Biomonitoring techniques include high-throughput sequencing, quantitative Polymerase Chain Technology, metaproteomics, metatranscriptomics and metagenomics. Cultivable microbes are commonly used but cultivation independent methods like pathogen tracking and toxin tracking needs to be included for an accurate picture. Integrating biological methods with technology like bioinformatics and machine learning tools could increase the efficiency of biomonitoring using microbes.

Keywords: Microbes, Techniques, Pollution, Biomonitoring, Biomarkers,Environmental Sustainability

How to cite this article: Archita Tiwari, Bharat Mishra, Bhupendra Singh, Shrishti Mishra. Application of Sustainable Microbial Techniques in Biomonitoring for Environmental Sustainability. International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology. 2025;15(2):578-91. doi: 10.25258/ijddt.15.2.27

REFERENCES

  1. Ahmed R, Umar AU, Shukla CP. Microbial indicators for monitoring pollution and bioremediation. InMicrobial Inoculants 2025 Jan 1 (pp. 413-432). Academic Press.
  2. Dhillon SK, Chung TH, Dhar BR. Bioremediation meets biosensing: leveraging microbial electrochemical cell-based biosensors. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology. 2025 Jun 5:1-41.
  3. Iqbal S, Begum F, Nguchu BA, Claver UP, Shaw P. The invisible architects: microbial communities and their transformative role in soil health and global climate changes. Environmental Microbiome. 2025 Mar 25;20(1):36.
  4. Liang X, Yang X, Sha N, Wang J, Qiu G, Chang M. Application of eDNA Metabarcoding Technology to Monitor the Health of Aquatic Ecosystems. Water. 2025 Apr 8;17(8):1109.
  5. Dhara A, Dutta R. A review on sources and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wetland ecosystem: focusing on plant-biomonitoring and phytoremediation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2025 Mar 18:1-23.
  6. El-Sheekh MM, El-Kassas HY, Ali SS. Microalgae-based bioremediation of refractory pollutants: an approach towards environmental sustainability. Microbial Cell Factories. 2025 Jan 14;24(1):19.
  7. Hait M, Patel D, Izah SC. Molecular Techniques and Technologies in Biomonitoring for Environmental Sustainability. InBiomonitoring of Pollutants in the Global South 2024 Jun 6 (pp. 605-637). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
  8. Babafemi OP, Ajani TF, Binuyo MO, Ajagbe AO, Owonibi SK, Ogwu MC. Biomonitoring for sustainable development. InBiomonitoring of Pollutants in the Global South 2024 Jun 6 (pp. 191-239). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
  9. Ogidi OI, Ajoko IT, Tawariowei AM. Sustainable Application of Genetic Ecotoxicological Techniques in Biomonitoring for Environmental Sustainability. InBiomonitoring of Pollutants in the Global South 2024 Jun 6 (pp. 667-692). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
  10. Shelke YP, Badge AK, Bankar NJ, Badge A. Applications of artificial intelligence in microbial diagnosis. Cureus. 2023 Nov 24;15(11).
  11. Hait M, Sahu P, Biswas S, Izah SC. Sustainable Application of Artificial Intelligence in Biomonitoring for Environmental Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects. Biomonitoring of Pollutants in the Global South. 2024 Jun 6:747-78.
  12. Kumar V, Chhetri A, Dey JK, Debnath A. Microbial Indicators for Monitoring Pollution and Bioremediation. Microbes Based Approaches for the Management of Hazardous Contaminants. 2024 Aug 21:390-6.
  13. Adetunji CO, Ukhurebor KE. Recent trends in utilization of biotechnological tools for environmental sustainability. Microbial Rejuvenation of Polluted Environment: Volume 3. 2021:239-63.
  14. Huang CW, Lin C, Nguyen MK, Hussain A, Bui XT, Ngo HH. A review of biosensor for environmental monitoring: principle, application, and corresponding achievement of sustainable development goals. Bioengineered. 2023 Dec 31;14(1):58-80.
  15. Gavrilescu M, Demnerová K, Aamand J, Agathos S, Fava F. Emerging pollutants in the environment: present and future challenges in biomonitoring, ecological risks and bioremediation. New biotechnology. 2015 Jan 25;32(1):147-56.
  16. Gavrilescu M. Environmental biotechnology: achievements, opportunities and challenges. Dynamic biochemistry, process biotechnology and molecular biology. 2010;4(1):1-36.
  17. Ahmad M, Pataczek L, Hilger TH, Zahir ZA, Hussain A, Rasche F, Schafleitner R, Solberg SØ. Perspectives of microbial inoculation for sustainable development and environmental management. Frontiers in microbiology. 2018 Dec 5;9:2992.
  18. Crowther TW, Rappuoli R, Corinaldesi C, Danovaro R, Donohue TJ, Huisman J, Stein LY, Timmis JK, Timmis K, Anderson MZ, Bakken LR. Scientists’ call to action: Microbes, planetary health, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Cell. 2024 Sep 19;187(19):5195-216.
  19. De Micco V, Amitrano C, Mastroleo F, Aronne G, Battistelli A, Carnero-Diaz E, De Pascale S, Detrell G, Dussap CG, Ganigué R, Jakobsen ØM. Plant and microbial science and technology as cornerstones to Bioregenerative Life Support Systems in space. npj Microgravity. 2023 Aug 24;9(1):69.
  20. Eisenstein BI. New molecular techniques for microbial epidemiology and the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1990 Apr 1;161(4):595-602.