Recognition of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria with a functionalized conducting polymer film

In this work, we successfully developed bacterial templates on the surface of an overoxidized polypyrrole film using both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in which bacterial surface chemical structures are precisely transferred at a molecular level. The sensor film identified target bacteria within minutes through a unique combination with dielectrophoresis. The bacterial cavities had high selectivity for distinguishing specific target bacteria in bacterial mixtures containing gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. This rapid and specific recognition system will enable not only bacterial sensing but also analysis of various biological species.