This work aims to design a high sensitivity and selectivity biosensor based on the electrochemistry of
single impacts on
to ultramicroelectrode (UME) to detect and identify various bacterial strains. The main objective is to establish a unique electrochemical signature for each bacterial cell through the individual impact event signal on the surface of the UME [1, 2]. First, we focus on the detection of well-known
electroactive Gram-negative bacteria such as
Shewanella oneidensis in order to be able to selectively detect these different single cells. In this case, the strategy currently used is to record a chronoamperometric curve in an aqueous potassium phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) solution containing a redox probe at an UME polarized at the oxidation or reduction potential of the electrochemical active aqueous species and to observe a “current step” when one bacterium impacts the UME, corresponding to a “blocking effect” [3] (Figure A). The response signal expected from single bacterium collision may also be a “current spike” corresponding to either the own electrochemical activity of the bacterium toward the redox probe and the UME applied potential or a “bouncing effect” of the bacterium which does not stick onto UME surface (Figure B).
In order to be able to identify the type of bacterial cell striking the UME surface, an adapted functionalization (covalent grafting via reduction of diazonium aryl salts) with appropriate affinity (bio)chemical species such as antibodies or aptamers could be performed. This strategy could confer to the UME surface a selectivity of the signal generated during single impacts. For example, the electro-grafting of diazo-pyridinium cations for microbial fuel cell electrodes showed to promote and improve the development of bacterial electroactive films [4].
[1] E. Lebègue, N. L. Costa, R. O. Louro, F. Barrière, J. Electrochem. Soc. 16 (2020) 105501
[2] A. T. Ronspees, S. N.Thorgaard, Electrochimica Acta. 278 (2018) 412-420
[3] G. Guanyue, W. Dengchao, B. Ricardo, Z. Jinfang, M. Michael V. Anal. Chem. 90 (2018) 12123−12130
[4] H. Smida, E. Lebègue, J-F. Bergamini, F. Barrière, C. Lagrost, Bioelectrochemistry. 120 (2018) 157-165
