Circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) as a contingency assay for 'mirror life' bio-hazards

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MacKenzie, Lewis E. and Black, Dominic J. and Pal, Robert (2026) Circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) as a contingency assay for 'mirror life' bio-hazards. Preprint / Working Paper. ChemRxiv. (https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.10001955/v1)

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Abstract

Life on Earth is predominately based upon a single chirality set, but so called "mirror life"-speculated life of the opposite chirality, either of artificial or natural origin-presents a low-likelihood, but high severity global biosecurity threat. Such an existential risk necessitates that technologies for surveillance and containment of mirror life are developed as a contingency. In this perspective, we propose screening against mirror life hazards via an optical-readout chirality assay, based upon circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) generated either via achiral fluorophores (via supramolecular chirality effects) or intrinsically chiral molecular probes. Such systems enable Enantioselective Differential Chiral Contrast (EDCC) imaging. We set out why a multi-reporter panel approach incorporating many CPL generating fluorescent/luminescent complexes-in conjunction with testing on conventional chirality life, would be necessary to avoid false positives, and thereby screen against mirror life with a high degree of confidence. The all-optical approach could be deployed via recently innovated CPL/EDCC optical technologies, i.e. CPL/EDCC rapid spectroscopy, microscopy, and cameras. CPL/EDCC microscopy could enable identification of even a single mirror life cell, whereas CPL/EDCC cameras could be used for in situ inspection. We envisage that this CPL-based approach to identifying mirror life would be complimentary to speculated future international legislation against mirror life research.

ORCID iDs

MacKenzie, Lewis E. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8151-0525, Black, Dominic J. and Pal, Robert;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)