SERS-based aptasensor for culture-free detection of Escherichia coli in urinary tract infection diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based aptasensor was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a major pathogen in urinary tract infections (UTIs). The sensor utilizes magnetic beads embedded with gold nanoparticles (MB-AuNPs) functionalized with capture DNA (cDNA) as both the SERS-active substrate and magnetic separation tool. The detection mechanism relies on an aptamer DNA-probe DNA complex: when the aptamer binds specifically to E. coli, the probe DNA is released and subsequently hybridizes with cDNA on the MB-AuNPs. This brings a Cy5 Raman label close to the gold surface, generating a strong SERS signal. The assay offers a one-step process, eliminating the need for bacterial culture or nucleic acid amplification, and completes within app

SUBMITTER: Kim K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12370591 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature