title: Polythiophene biosensor for rapid detection of microbial particles in water.
abstract: Most microbial particles have a negatively charged surface and in this work, we describe a water quality monitoring application of a cationic polythiophene derivative (AH-35) for the rapid assessment of microbial contamination of water. Using E. coli as a prototype microbial particle, we demonstrate that the AH-35 polymer can provide a qualitative assessment of water if exposed to more than 500 CFU/mL, thereby paving the way to a new family of biosensors potentially useful for monitoring drinking water distribution systems.
authors.affiliation: Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Pier
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bérubé
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bissonnette
authors.forename: Michel G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclerc
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005453:Fluorescence; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers; D013876:Thiophenes; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014867:Water; C066730:polythiophene