Rapid electrochemical detection of drug-resistance E. coli through liposome-rGO biosensing platform

Abstract

Conventional techniques for recognizing antibiotic-resistant bacteria are time wasting and rely heavily on human expertise. In this study, we explore the efficacy of electrochemical sensors in distinguishing between drug-susceptible and drug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria by leveraging their distinct electron transfer capabilities. Our approach involves the fabrication of a liposome-rGO-based biosensing platform for electrochemical detection. Liposomes facilitate liposome-bacteria fusion due to their membrane structure's similarity to that of bacteria, while rGO, being conductive, detects changes in current. We characterized the physicochemical properties of the biosensing working electrode using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), attenuated total reflectance (ATR), Raman spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. Additionally, the designed biosensing platform's electrochemical response analysis was conducted using the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) approach. DPV measurements revealed distinct current responses correlating with changes in bacterial concentration, ranging from 3 × 103 to 10 × 104 cells/mL. To ascertain the specificity of electron transfer capability unique to drug-resistant bacteria, we implemented background correction by subtracting normal bacterial responses. Notably, we observed a linear change in DPV peak current responses within the range of 4 × 104 to 10 × 104 cells/mL, achieving a detection sensitivity of ∼ 1.8 μA/104 cells/mL in the electrolyte. This novel sensing approach augments existing methods and addresses the escalating demand for rapid, point-of-care (POC) electrochemical sensors crucial in detecting drug-resistant bacteria promptly. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.