Aptamer-NanoZyme mediated sensing platform for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli in fruit juice

• Main Authors: Ritu Das, Bandhan Chaterjee, Arti Kapil, Tarun Kumar Sharma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-02-01
• Series: Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214180419301497

Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (EC) have emerged as a threat to public health due to its ability to contaminate food and water. Early detection of EC contamination in food products is of fundamental importance to avoid any severe medical situations associated with its infection. We herein report a rapid and facile; aptamer and NanoZyme-based assay for EC detection in fruit juice. The developed assay is highly rapid, sensitive, and affordable. The test can be completed within 5 min without any requirement of a sophisticated instrument and cost roughly $ 2. Moreover, the detection is visible to naked eyes. We have also adapted the aptamer on to an electrochemical sensing platform to evaluate its diagnostic utility. The aptamer performed impressively with both NanoZyme-based colorimetric and electrochemical assay and displayed a low-end detection limit of ~10 CFU. The approach presented in the current study is a generic strategy and in principle, may be used for the detection of various analytes, including other bacterial pathogens. Keywords: Aptamers, Electrochemical sensors, Escherichia coli, Gold nanoparticles, NanoZyme, TMB