Apart from using antibodies, short DNA sequences called aptamers
have been used as highly specific bioreceptors for high profi-
ciency detection of a wide range of analytes including bacteria.
Zelada-Guillén et al. (2009) used aptamer-functionalized CNTs
for selective detection of Salmonella Typhi from a complex mixture.
SWNTs were carboxylated via acid treatment and sprayed onto a
3 mm diameter glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to achieve a
30 lm-thick SWNT network. The aptamer was modified with a
five-carbon spacer and an amine group (–(CH2)5NH2) at the 30
end and was covalently bound to the carboxylic groups on the
sidewalls of SWNTs using carbodiimide chemistry. Upon introduction
of the target bacteria, a conformational change in the aptamer
is induced due to separation of the phosphate groups from the
SWNT surface. This changes the charge density near the electrode
surface and a subsequent change in potential is recorded between
the SWNT–aptamer modified GCE (working electrode) and Ag/AgCl
electrode (reference). The potentiometric response of the biosensor
was measured for bacteria concentrations varying from 0.2 cfu/ml
(1 CFU in 5 ml PB) to 106 cfu/mL. As shown in Fig. 8, upon increasing
concentration of bacteria, the potential difference increased but
the magnitude of signal decreased, possibly due to the saturation
of binding sites. The average response was reported to be
1.87 mV per log of bacteria concentration. The specificity of the
sensor was demonstrated by testing against non-target bacteria
(Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei). Similarly, So et al. (2008)
reported an aptamer-functionalized SWNT-based FET for selective
and sensitive detection of E. coli.