Novel Artificial Biosensor Based on Molecular Imprinting Technology for Recognition and Label-Free Electrochemical Detection of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

In the present research endeavor, a sensor utilizing an imprinted polymer film was developed to detect Staphylococcus aureus in biological samples and contaminated foodstuffs. To achieve this objective, an imprinted polymer film containing the bacteria was synthesized via electropolymerization on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Subsequently, the modifications in the characteristics of the working electrode were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The determination of S. aureus was conducted under optimal conditions, employing [Fe(CN)6]<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{\text {3-/ {4}-}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> as a redox probe, utilizing the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique within a linear range of 10 to <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$5\times 10^{{8}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CFU<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\cdot $ </tex-math></inline-formula> mL<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-{1}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, with a detection limit established at 2.7 CFU<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\cdot $ </tex-math></inline-formula> mL<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-{1}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. In addition, the sensor’s repeatability, stability, and selectivity were assessed in the presence of interfering bacteria. The results of this investigation indicated that the proposed electrode exhibits commendable repeatability, selectivity, and stability.