Ratiometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer aptasensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria in urine sample using carbon dots as optical nanoprobes

Development of sensitive and selective analytical method for accurate diagnosis of Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) bacteria in biological samples is a challenge. Herein, we developed an ingenious ratiometric fluorescent apta-sensor for sensitive and selective detection of (Ab) bacteria based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between ortho-phenylenediamines carbon dot (o-CD), nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (NCND) as donor's species and graphene oxide (GO) as acceptor. NCND that assembled onto the edge of graphene oxide (GO) exhibited quenched photoluminescence emission, and with the absorption of the modified o-CD with aptamer (o-CD-ssDNA) onto the graphene oxide surface the fluorescence of o-CD was efficiently quenched. The aptamer (ssDNA) as a biorecognition element is bound with A. baumannii specifically which releases the o-CD-ssDNA from GO and the recovery of the fluorescence signal of o-CD, while the fluorescence intensity of NCND only slightly altered and acted as the reference signal in ratiometric fluorescence assay. The fluorescence intensity ratio (I-550 nm/I(440)nm) varied from 2.0 to 10.0 with the concentration of bacteria changing from 2.0 x 10(3) to 4.5 x 10(7) cfu/mL and the low detection limit of 3.0 x 10(2) cfu/mL (S/N = 3). The feasibility of the developed aptasensor for selective detection of A. baumannii in urine sample with satisfactory results was also demonstrated.

Automated summary

A ratiometric fluorescent apta-sensor was developed for sensitive and selective detection of Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) bacteria in biological samples, based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between ortho-phenylenediamines carbon dot (o-CD), nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (NCND) as donor's species, and graphene oxide (GO) as acceptor. The sensor showed a wide range of fluorescence intensity ratio variation with the change in bacterial concentration and a low detection limit, demonstrating its feasibility for selective detection of A. baumannii in urine samples.