Biodegradable sensors detect plant pesticides

May 16, 2026

Scientists at the University of São Paulo have developed innovative biodegradable wearable sensors designed to monitor plant health and detect pesticide contamination in real time. The research team, led by Paulo Augusto Raymundo-Pereira at the São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP), created flexible plant sensors using carbon ink printed onto transparent cellulose acetate bioplastic.

The groundbreaking research, published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X, highlights a sustainable alternative to traditional wearable devices, which are commonly made from petroleum-based plastics. The World Economic Forum recently recognized wearable sensor technology as one of the top emerging technologies with the potential to revolutionize agriculture and improve crop productivity.

Unlike conventional plastic sensors, the new biodegradable devices are made from cellulose acetate, a renewable material derived from agricultural waste. Cellulose is considered one of the most abundant natural polymers on Earth and offers several advantages, including flexibility, thermal stability, low toxicity, affordability, and environmental sustainability.

According to Raymundo-Pereira, the lightweight sensors can be directly attached to plant surfaces such as leaves, stems, bark, and fruit skins. Once applied, they can monitor essential indicators including temperature, humidity, dehydration levels, nutrient deficiencies, plant diseases, biomarkers, and pesticide residues without damaging the crop.

The wearable biosensor platform contains two separate sensing units capable of identifying three pesticide compounds simultaneously: diquat, carbendazim, and diphenylamine. One sensor uses square-wave voltammetry (SWV) for diquat detection, while the second applies differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to analyze carbendazim and diphenylamine in a single test.

One of the most notable advantages of the technology is its extremely low production cost. Each disposable sensor costs approximately $0.00077 to manufacture, making it highly practical for large-scale agricultural applications. The full testing process takes just over three minutes to deliver accurate real-time results.

To perform the analysis, researchers place a small drop of water or phosphate buffer solution on the plant surface to create conductivity between the electrode and the sample. The flexible cellulose acetate material adapts easily to uneven surfaces, allowing sensors to function effectively on fruits and vegetables such as apples, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

The smart sensor platform is connected to a portable wireless potentiostat, enabling farmers and researchers to instantly view pesticide detection results on a smartphone via Bluetooth technology. This creates a fast, decentralized monitoring system suitable for modern precision agriculture.

The research team previously developed a sensor-equipped glove in 2022 for similar testing purposes. However, the new wearable plant sensor offers several advantages, including direct surface application, improved flexibility, full biodegradability, and the ability to recycle carbon ink from used devices for future sensor production.

Researchers tested the technology by spraying apples and bell peppers with agrochemical solutions to simulate real farming conditions. After drying, the wearable sensors successfully detected pesticide residues directly on the fruit surface during onsite testing.

Beyond agriculture, the biodegradable wearable sensor technology also shows promise in healthcare and environmental monitoring. Scientists demonstrated that the sensors can detect pesticide traces in saliva and tap water samples. Future applications may include analyzing sweat, urine, hormones, glucose, medications, sodium, potassium, lactic acid, cortisol, and other biomarkers in medical diagnostics.

Raymundo-Pereira was inspired to adapt wearable sensor technology for farming after completing research at the University of California, San Diego under Professor Joseph Wang. While most international wearable sensors are designed for human skin applications, the Brazilian team focused on creating eco-friendly biodegradable versions suitable for both agriculture and healthcare.

Patent applications for both the sensor glove and the biodegradable wearable plant sensor have already been submitted to Brazil’s National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI). The multidisciplinary project also involved researchers from the Federal University of Viçosa, including Samiris Teixeira, Nilda de F. F. Soares, and Taíla de Oliveira.