The availability
of portable analytical devices for on-site monitoring
and rapid detection of analytes of forensic, environmental, and clinical
interest is vital. We report the development of a portable device
for the detection of biochemiluminescence relying on silicon photomultiplier
(SiPM) technology, called LuminoSiPM, which includes a 3D printed
sample holder that can be adapted for both liquid samples and paper-based
biosensing. We performed a comparison of analytical performance in
terms of detectability with a benchtop luminometer, a portable cooled
charge-coupled device (CCD sensor), and smartphone-integrated complementary
metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors. As model systems, we used
two luciferase/luciferin systems emitting at different wavelengths
using purified protein solutions: the green-emitting
P. pyralis
mutant Ppy-GR-TS (λ
max
550 nm) and the blue-emitting
NanoLuc (λ
max
460 nm). A limit of detection of 9
femtomoles was obtained for NanoLuc luciferase, about 2 and 3 orders
of magnitude lower than that obtained with the portable CCD camera
and with the smartphone, respectively. A proof-of-principle forensic
application of LuminoSiPM is provided, exploiting an origami chemiluminescent
paper-based sensor for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, showing high
potential for this portable low-cost device for on-site applications
with adequate sensitivity for detecting low light intensities in critical
fields.