Enhanced electrochemical biosensing of Candida albicans via NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticle-doped imprinted polymers

Isbilir H., Kaya H. O., Tekintaş Y., Kurul F., ÇETİN A. E., Topkaya S. N.

Microchemical Journal, cilt.215, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 215
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.microc.2025.114513
  • Dergi Adı: Microchemical Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Candida albicans, Electrochemical biosensor, Electropolymerization, Fungus detection, Molecularly imprinted polymers
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a common opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections, with increasing antifungal resistance posing a significant clinical challenge. In this study, we report the development of a novel electrochemical biosensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) enhanced with Nickel Iron Oxide (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles for the rapid and sensitive detection of C. albicans. The sensor was fabricated using electropolymerization of pyrrole on pencil graphite electrodes modified with NiFe₂O₄, followed by template removal. The developed biosensor exhibited high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.8 CFU (Colony-forming unit)/mL and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 32.3 CFU/mL in phosphate buffer (PBS). Selectivity tests demonstrated high selectivity against bacterial species and Candida krusei (C. krusei) while limited selectivity was observed against Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis) and Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis). The sensor also performed reliably in artificial urine samples, achieving a comparable LOD of 3 CFU/mL. These results suggest that the NiFe₂O₄-enhanced MIP platform offers a promising, low-cost, and user-friendly alternative for the point-of-care detection of C. albicans, addressing key limitations of conventional culture and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostics.