A label-free electrochemical biosensor based on screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles for quick detection of bacterial pathogens

[Display omitted] •An electrochemical biosensor has developed for label-free detection of bacterial pathogens.•The sensor has designed based on carbon screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles.•The sensor could detect E. coli O157 label-free in the range from 101 – 106 CFU/mL, with LoD of 15 CFU/mL.•The study could be potential for the development of point-of-care/on-site monitoring devices for pathogenic agents. In this study, carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were prepared for label-free detection of Escherichia coli(E. coli) O157. AuNPs were synthesized by an electrochemical method and then modified on the carbon SPEs to improve the stability and effectiveness of the biosensor. Anti-E. coli O157 antibody was immobilized on the modified SPEs via -NHS cross-linking. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were selected to investigate electrochemical properties of modified carbon SPEs in a 5.0 mM K3[Fe(CN)6]/ K4[Fe(CN)6] added with 0.1 M KCl as well as to detect E. coli O157 bacteria. Results showed that the carbon SPEs were successfully modified with AuNPs of 18.0 ± 1.6 nm. The electrochemical signal of modified SPEs was stable after CV cycles, and the charge transfer resistance (Rct) decreased approximately to half of its initial value. Importantly, electrochemical biosensors based on AuNPs-modified carbon SPEs could detect E. coli O157 in the range of 10–106 CFU/mL without labels. The limit of detection was found at 15 CFU/mL with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, and the time of detection was about 30 min. The success of as-prepared biosensor could open a strategy of portable diagnostics for label-free and quick detection of bacterial pathogens causing food-borne diseases, hospital-acquired infections as well as the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.