OWLS APPLICATION NOTES NO-009

ELECTROCHEMICAL OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE LIGHTMODE

SPECTROSCOPY (EC-OWLS) FOR ESCHERICHIA COLI
DETECTION
Abstract
Escherichia Coli is a Gram-negative non-spore forming rod and a representative
microorganism in the enteric bacteria. It is also considered as index microorganism in
the food industry.
Electrochem ical Optic al W aveguide Li ghtm ode S pectroscopy (EC-OW LS) com bines
evanescent-field optical sensing with electrochemical control of surface adsorption
processes. A layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) serves as a conductive electrode for
electrochemical sensing and together with the other glass-type layers of the sensor
functioned as a high refractive index waveguide for optical sensing.

Measuring setup
Calibration curve of lactobacillus cell
concentration
Calibration curve of the bacteria count from
1 0 2 – 1 0 8 C F U / m l s u s p e n d e d i n b u f f e r s o l u t i o n wa s
obtained on the basis of three replicate samples.
Considering the effect of conducting salts on the
electrochemical measurements, the results showed
that the peaks measured with buffer solution
containing KCl salt resulted higher signals than
without the salt.

60
Mass (arbitrary unit)

50
40 TRIS+KCl
30 TRIS
20
10
Sample preparation 0
E . c o l i s t r a i n ( N C A I M B . 0 0 2 0 0 , h t t p : / / w w w. u n i - 1.E+03 1.E+05 1.E+07 1.E+09
c o r v i n u s . h u : 8 0 8 9 / N C A I M / f r a m e s e t . j s p ) wa s g r o w n i n Cell number (CFU)
BHI broth shaking on 37oC for 18 hours.

Calculated mass of immobilized cells as the Sensor response of different rate of living
function of polarizing potential and damaged cells
The effect of polarization potential on the Based on the measuring principle, this measurement
adsorption of the E. coli cells onto the sensor can not be selective to E. coli cells, but it could
surface was investigated. Sample of 108 CFU/ml show a quick estimation about the number of living
bacteria suspended in buffer solution was injected bacteria cells in different samples.
into the flow-through cuvette. The polarization
potential was changed between
0-1200 mV.
60
Mass (arbitrary unit)

50
70 40
Mass (arbitrary unit)

60 30
50 20
40
10
30
0
20
0 20 40 60 80 100
10
0 Living cells (%)
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Potential (mV) References:
Adányi , N., N ém eth E.; Hal ász A .; S zendrı I.; V áradi M.;
Application of electrochemical optical waveguide
lightmode s pec trosc opy (EC -OW LS) for studyi ng the
effect of different stress factors on lactic acid bacteria.
Anal Chim Acta 573-574, (2006) 41-47.

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