In this work we report the electrochemical detection of single Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria at a Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME), with correlated optical observation using a fluorescence microscope. An electric field generated by the oxidation of ferrocene methanol (FcMeOH) at the UME causes the bacteria to arrive at the electrode surface by electrophoretic migration. Adsorption of the bacteria to the electrode surface causes measurable blocking of FcMeOH diffusion to the electrode, which results in quantifiable step shaped transients in a plot of the electrode current versus time. The incorporation of fluorescence microscopy to the method allows us to visually track the migration of fluorescently dyed bacteria as they arrive at the electrode surface. Supplemental experiments monitoring the adsorption of single polymer nanoparticles will also be discussed.

Electrochemical monitoring and correlated fluorescence imaging of single Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria using ultramicroelectrodes

251st National Meeting (2016)

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