Biomimetic Bacterial Identification Platform Based on Thermal Wave Transport Analysis (TWTA) through Surface-Imprinted Polymers

Erik Steen Redeker, Kasper Eersels, Onno Akkermans, Jeroen Royakkers, Simba Dyson, Kunya Nurekeyeva, Beniamino Ferrando, Peter Cornelis, Marloes Peeters, Patrick Wagner, Hanne Dilien, Bart van Grinsven*, Thomas Jan Cleij

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel bacterial identification assay based on thermal wave analysis through surface imprinted polymers (SIPs). Aluminum chips are coated with SIPs, serving as synthetic cell receptors that have been combined previously with the heat-transfer method (HTM) for the selective detection of bacteria. In this work, the concept of bacterial identification is extended toward the detection of nine different bacterial species. In addition, a novel sensing approach, thermal wave transport analysis (TWTA), is introduced, which analyzes the propagation of a thermal wave through a functional interface. The results presented here demonstrate that bacterial rebinding to the SIP layer resulted in a measurable phase shift in the propagated wave, which is most pronounced at a frequency of 0.03 Hz. In this way, the sensor is able to selectively distinguish between the different bacterial species used in this study. Furthermore, a dose response curve was constructed to determine a limit of detection of 1 x 10(4) CFU mL(-1), indicating that TWTA is advantageous over HTM in terms of sensitivity and response time. Additionally, the limit of selectivity of the sensor was tested in a mixed bacterial solution, containing the target species in the presence of a 99-fold excess of competitor species. Finally, a first application for the sensor in terms of infection diagnosis is presented, revealing that the platform is able to detect bacteria in clinically relevant concentrations as low as 3 X 10(4) CFU mL-1 in spiked urine samples.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)388-397
JournalACS Infectious Diseases
Volume3
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2017

Keywords

  • surface-imprinted polymers
  • thermal wave transport analysis (TWTA)
  • bacterial identification
  • cross-selectivity matrix
  • mixed bacterial solution

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