Early stage detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation using MgZnO dual-gate TFT biosensor

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early stage detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation using MgZnO dual-gate TFT biosensor

AU - Li, Guangyuan

AU - Wu, Yifan

AU - Li, Yuxuan

AU - Hong, Yuzhi

AU - Zhao, Xilin

AU - Reyes, Pavel Ivanoff

AU - Lu, Yicheng

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2020/3/1

Y1 - 2020/3/1

N2 - Early stage detection of biofilm formation is an important aspect of microbial research because once formed, biofilms show serious tolerance to antibiotics in contrast to the free-floating bacteria, which significantly increases the difficulty for clinical treatment of bacterial infections. The early stage detection technology is desired to improve the efficiency of medical treatments. In this work, we present a biosensor consisting of a magnesium zinc oxide (MZO) dual gate thin-film transistor (DGTFT) as the actuator and an MZO nanostructure (MZOnano) array coated conducting pad as the extended sensing gate for the early stage detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) biofilm formation. S. epidermidis bacteria were cultured in vitro on the nanostructure modified sensing pad. Charge transfer occurs between microbial cells and the MZOnano during the initial bacterial adhesion stage. Such electrical signals, which represent the onset of biofilm formation, were dynamically detected by the DGTFT where the top gate electrode was connected to the extended MZOnano sensing pad and the bottom gate was used for biasing the device into the optimum characteristic region for high sensitivity and stable operation. The testing results show that a current change of ~80% is achieved after ~200 min of bacterial culturing. A crystal violet staining-based assay shows that tiny bacterial microcolonies just start to form at 200 min, and that it would take approximately 24 h to form matured biofilms. This technology enables medical professionals to act promptly on bacterial infection before biofilms get fully established.

AB - Early stage detection of biofilm formation is an important aspect of microbial research because once formed, biofilms show serious tolerance to antibiotics in contrast to the free-floating bacteria, which significantly increases the difficulty for clinical treatment of bacterial infections. The early stage detection technology is desired to improve the efficiency of medical treatments. In this work, we present a biosensor consisting of a magnesium zinc oxide (MZO) dual gate thin-film transistor (DGTFT) as the actuator and an MZO nanostructure (MZOnano) array coated conducting pad as the extended sensing gate for the early stage detection of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) biofilm formation. S. epidermidis bacteria were cultured in vitro on the nanostructure modified sensing pad. Charge transfer occurs between microbial cells and the MZOnano during the initial bacterial adhesion stage. Such electrical signals, which represent the onset of biofilm formation, were dynamically detected by the DGTFT where the top gate electrode was connected to the extended MZOnano sensing pad and the bottom gate was used for biasing the device into the optimum characteristic region for high sensitivity and stable operation. The testing results show that a current change of ~80% is achieved after ~200 min of bacterial culturing. A crystal violet staining-based assay shows that tiny bacterial microcolonies just start to form at 200 min, and that it would take approximately 24 h to form matured biofilms. This technology enables medical professionals to act promptly on bacterial infection before biofilms get fully established.

KW - Bioelectric effect

KW - Biofilm detection

KW - Biosensor

KW - Magnesium zinc oxide

KW - Nanostructures

KW - Thin film transistor

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077493500&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85077493500&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111993

DO - 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111993

M3 - Article

C2 - 31999592

SN - 0956-5663

VL - 151

JO - Biosensors and Bioelectronics

JF - Biosensors and Bioelectronics

M1 - 111993

ER -