Advanced nanostructured biosensors enabled by rational surface engineering for bacterial detection
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of bacterial pathogens is vital for public health and food safety. This study presents a rationally engineered nanostructured biosensor platform based on boronic acid (BA)-functionalized indium tin oxide vertical nanowires (ITO-VNWs) for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based detection of Escherichia coli. By optimizing nanowire geometry through controlled KOH etching and tailoring surface chemistry via BA modification, the biosensors achieve enhanced bacterial adhesion and signal transduction. Extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory (XDLVO) analysis confirms improved surface–bacteria interaction, with reduced energy barriers and stronger adhesion forces to the BA-ITO-VNWs. The BA-ITO-VNWs biosensors demonstrate a wide dynamic range (101–107 CFU mL−1), low detection limit (10 CFU mL−1), and rapid response within 9 min. High specificity is achieved for E. coli over Staphylococcus aureus. Our advanced biosensors show excellent repeatability, reproducibility, and stability. Furthermore, detection in spiked milk and juice samples closely match commercial viability assays, and integration with a portable EIS chip enables miniaturized, field-deployable diagnostics. This work highlights the importance of combining nanoscale surface engineering and rationalized interfacial interactions via XDLVO analysis to optimize biosensor performance, providing a versatile strategy for the development of high-performance, real-time biosensing systems for bacterial monitoring.
Source: Biosensors and Bioelectronics
Authors: Nitish Kumar, Lester U. Vinzons, Wei-Yau Shia, Po-Hsun Chu, Yu-Te Liao, Chia-Wei Liu, Shu-Ping Lin
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,540
Awards: Developing High-Performance Chips and Generative Ai Combined with Multi-Smart Sensing for Precise Pathogen Detection in Pig Herds( II ), Learning and Memory Functions of 2d Nanomaterial Floating-Gate Transistors (Fgt)/Silicon Nanowire Field Effect Transistors (Sinwfet) for the Development of Neurotransistors, Developing High-Performance Chips and Generative Ai Combined with Multi-Smart Sensing for Precise Pathogen Detection in Pig Herds( I )
OpenAlex ID: W4415224952