Research paperCarbon nanotube-based electrochemical biosensors for determination of Candida albicans's quorum sensing molecule

- Electrochemical biosensors developments for pathogenic detections.
- Synthesis, characterizations and electrocatalytic activity investigation of Crown-ether/MWCNTs modified sensors.
- Assay optimization, validation and determination of a quorum sensing molecule (Tryptophol) in Candida albicans's culture.

Candida albicans produces various quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) which are involved in biological processes, e.g. morphological changes or biofilm formation. Thus, a sensitive and selective electrochemical assay was developed for determination of tryptophol as one of the most important QSMs. Preparation, characterization, and testing the electrocatalytic activity of prepared sensors with various sensing elements and nanomaterials were investigated. In addition, the effects of supporting electrolytes, pH of buffer solutions, scan rate, and possible interferences on the response of tryptophol's sensor were studied. Eventually, improving the sensitivity and selectivity were achieved using a combination of 12-crwon-4-ether and MWCNTs (10% w/w for each). With the developed electrochemical sensor, the linear response was observed from 10 μg/ml to 110 μg/ml with the detection limit of 1 μg/ml and regression coefficient of 0.998. Consequently, the method was successfully applied for the detection of tryptophol in the fungal culture.

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