A novel screening platform for electromicrobiology: A 3-D paper-based sensing array with conductive PEDOT:PSS

摘要

We demonstrate an electrically conductive paper-based screening platform for the high-throughput and rapid characterization of the electricity-producing capability of microorganisms. This novel screening sensor substantially improved the device fabrication, sensitivity, reliability, and scalability by simply patterning hydrophilic reservoirs in paper with hydrophobic wax boundaries and adding water-dispersed electrically conducting polymer mixture, poly(3,4-ethylened ioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT :PSS) to the reservoirs. The microporous paper structure ensured a large surface area and efficient mass transfer to and from the electrodes while the conductive polymers enhanced electrocatalytic activity and the rate of bacterial extracellular electron transfer. We validated the utility of the sensor array by studying how strategic genetic modifications impacted the electrochemical activity of various Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant strains. Within 50 mins, we successfully determined the electricity generation capacity of five isogenic mutants of P. aeruginosa.