Array-based specific classification of bacterial species via hydrophilic/hydrophobic biosensors

The early detection of bacterial species plays a crucial role in patient prognosis and in the development of effective therapy regimens. This study introduces an accessible and promising fluorescent sensor array designed for the classification of Gram-positive (G+) and Gram-negative (G–) bacterial species. The classification relies on 12 functionalized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) exhibiting diverse hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties serving as sensing elements. Using these specific sensing elements, we have successfully differentiated between G– and G+ bacterial species and discriminated individual bacterial strains in various media, including water, serum, and urine, with remarkable reproducibility and high sensitivity. The excellent accuracy of the detection of unknown samples further validates the practical applicability of this sensor array. Moreover, the versatility of the sensor array is underscored by its ability to identify bacterial mixtures and bacteria with varying concentrations. In summary, this fluorescent AuNC-based sensor array offers a potent tool for bacterial analysis with promising applications in the field of biomedical diagnostics.