Nonfaradaic Electrochemical Detection of <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> Using DNA Hybridized Glassy Carbon Electrodes

Here, we report for the first time on the development of a label-free, nonfaradaic, and sensitive DNA-based impedimetric sensor to detect the soil-borne agricultural disease Ralstonia solanacearum. The sensor uses a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) produced using the carbon-micro-electromechanical systems (MEMSs) process. The sensor binds to the target R. solanacearum deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) selectively by functionalizing the electrode surface with a corresponding DNA probe. This results in detectable changes in impedance. The nonfaradaic method provides a strong and dependable method for pathogen detection by increasing sensitivity and reducing background noise. GCE can be used for biosensing applications because of its low background interference and compatibility with various biological experiments. We have already used a gold interdigitated electrode (IDE)-based method in our earlier investigation to detect R. solanacearum via DNA hybridization. In this study, C-MEMS-derived GCE is used, which offers a versatile, cost-effective, and stable alternative to gold IDEs, particularly in applications requiring high chemical stability, surface customizability, and cost efficiency.