Abstract
The mounting global crisis of environmental pollution necessitates transformative advances in analytical technologies that combine speed, precision, and field applicability. To meet this demand, next-generation analytical platforms must achieve seamless integration of two critical features: molecular-level recognition fidelity and reliable signal transduction. DNA nanotechnology leverages sequence-specific molecular recognition and programmable self-assembly to enable both natural (e.g., riboswitches) and synthetic (e.g., aptamers, DNAzymes) biosensing modalities. The structural programmability and predictable Watson-Crick base pairing of DNA provide a modular framework for designing next-generation biosensors with tunable specificity and sensitivity. When integrated with portable point-of-care (POC) platforms, these biosensing systems enable field-deployable, rapid, and operator-agnostic detection of toxicants across diverse matrixes, making them highly suitable for complex environmental monitoring tasks. This perspective highlights the potential and strategic approaches for constructing biosensors utilizing DNA-based recognition elements and structural materials. It explores the progress in field-deployable DNA-based biosensors, which are revolutionizing the on-site detection of environmental toxicants. We also discuss the current challenges and future perspectives for DNA-based biosensing systems in environmental pollution monitoring, offering insights into their broader applications.