Sensor Surface Research Articles

Engineering an Antifouling Electrochemical Sensing Platform Based on an All-in-One Peptide and a Hierarchical β-Bi2O3-Au Microsphere for Vancomycin Detection in Food.

Challenges associated with interference aroused by nonspecific attachment of foulants in the food matrix steered the development of sensor surfaces capable of antifouling capacity. In this study, an antifouling electrochemical sensing platform based on an all-in-one peptide (DOPA3-PPPPEKDQDKKaa) with anchoring, antifouling, and recognition functions and a hierarchical β-Bi2O3-Au microsphere was proposed for vancomycin (Van) detection in food. The β-Bi2O3-Au with excellent conductivity was synthesized and introduced as an electrode modifier to accelerate electron transfer on the sensor surface, enhancing sensing response. Mussel organism-inspired oligo DOPA, that is, oligo 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, was employed as the anchoring segment of the all-in-one peptide, which is versatile for surfaces with different materials. PPPPEKDQDK and Kaa as antifouling and recognition segments confer abilities to resist nonspecific adsorption of foulants and specifically bind Van on the sensor surface, respectively. Notably, the excellent antifouling performance of the proposed sensor has been verified in protein solutions, carbohydrate solutions, and even in diluted milk and honey. Molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to explain the antifouling mechanism of the all-in-one peptide. The proposed sensor can detect Van sensitively and selectively with a relatively wide linear range (0.1-100 ng mL-1) and a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.038 ng mL-1 and support the quantification of Van in milk, milk powder, and honey samples with satisfactory recoveries within 105.3-110.8%. This antifouling electrochemical sensing platform offers a feasible strategy to reduce matrix interference, which guarantees the accurate detection of Van in food samples.

Design of a Facile Antifouling Sensor Based on the Synergy between an Antibody and Phase-Transited BSA.

Nonspecific adsorption has always been a critical challenge for sensor detection; thus, an efficient and facile approach for fabricating antifouling sensors is highly desirable. Here, we developed an antifouling coating on sensor surfaces, conveniently made with a simple drip of phase-transited BSA (PTB) followed by a modification with a peanut allergen antibody, which unexpectedly provides synergistic antifouling properties in sensors. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the surface evenness. Optimizations in terms of PTB modification time and concentrations were performed using surface plasmon resonance by measuring protein resistance capabilities. Compared to bare Au surfaces, the PTB-modified surfaces exhibited low adsorption against BSA (<10 ng/cm2) and good resistance against lysozyme (Lyz). After immobilizing antibodies, the antifouling performance of the sensor coatings had an obvious enhancement, with almost no BSA adsorption and low lysozyme adsorption. The target recognition was also analyzed to verify the good sensing performance of the antifouling sensor. This understanding of antibody synergy provides suggestions for the development of antifouling sensors.

2-Dimensional Materials for Performance Enhancement of Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor: Review Paper

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)--based biosensors compete and excel among optical biosensors because of exceptional features such as high sensitivity, label-free, and real-time measurement, allowing the observation of molecular binding kinetics. In SPR biosensors and other biosensor techniques, surface functionalization and bioreceptor attachment are effective strategies to improve sensor performance. The application of an appropriate immobilization matrix for the bioreceptor is an essential step in maximizing the absorption of the bioreceptor on the sensor surface, thereby improving a specific target-sensor interaction. Furthermore, the materials should provide excellent optical properties to enhance the response signal. The high surface-to-volume ratio and high optical absorption of 2D materials qualify these requirements, thus promising advancements for SPR biosensors. This article reviews the recent SPR biosensor study with the use of the 2D materials family to improve the sensor performance, including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MXene, black phosphorus (BP), perovskite, and boron nitride (BN). The materials properties and enhancement mechanisms of different 2D materials are discussed comprehensively. This review was expected to provide a future perspective and design approach for 2D materials-based SPR biosensors.

Three-dimensional graphene on a nano-porous 4H-silicon carbide backbone: a novel material for food sensing applications.

Sensors that are sensitive to volatile organic compounds, and thus able to monitor the conservation state of food, are precious because they work non-destructively and allow avoiding direct contact with the food, ensuring hygienic conditions. In particular, the monitoring of rancidity would solve a widespread issue in food storage. The sensor discussed here is produced utilizing a novel three-dimensional arrangement of graphene, which is grown on a crystalline silicon carbide wafer previously porousified by chemical etching. This approach allows a very high surface-to-volume ratio. Furthermore, the structure of the sensor surface features a large number of edges, dangling bounds, and active sites, which make the sensor, on a chemically robust skeleton, chemically active, particularly to hydrogenated molecules. The interaction of the sensor with such compounds is read out by measuring the sensor resistance in a four-wire configuration. The sensor performance has been assessed on three hazelnut samples: sound, spoiled, and stink bug hazelnuts. A resistance variation of about ∆R = 0.13 ± 0.02 Ω between sound and damaged hazelnuts has been detected. Our measurements confirm the ability of the sensor to discriminate between sound and damaged hazelnuts. The sensor signal is stable for days, providing the possibility to use this sensor for the monitoring of the storage state of fats and foods in general. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Flexible Aptameric Graphene Field‐Effect Nanosensor Capable of Automatic Liquid Collection/Filtering for Cytokine Storm Biomarker Monitoring in Undiluted Sweat

AbstractA wearable sensor capable of directly detecting cytokines in external secretions external to the human body is pivotal for gauging the intensity of the immune response and circumventing inflammatory storms, a significant clinical concern. The detection of low‐concentration cytokines is often hampered due to interference from impurities in secretions. Addressing this challenge, a wearable detection system is developed by integrating a Janus membrane with water auto‐collection/filtering capabilities, and aptamer‐modified graphene field‐effect transistor sensors, enabling the detection of low‐concentration cytokines in undiluted sweat samples. The Janus membrane can automatically filter external secretions and transport them to the sensor surface, effectively eliminating impurity interference and enhancing the sensor's detection capabilities. The device can sensitively detect cytokines (such as TNF‐α, a marker for inflammation and cancer) in undiluted sweat, with a detection range spanning 0.5 to 500 pM, and a detection limit reaching 0.31 pM. The ultra‐flexibility of the sensor is also verified, maintaining stable electrical properties even after enduring up to 50 extreme deformations. These findings indicate that the wearable detection system has the potential to realize low‐concentration cytokines monitoring in the sweat of inflammatory patients, to assist the healthcare system in controlling the body's immune status.

Dynamics of Chemically Reactive Magnetized Casson Nanofluid Flow over a Sensor Surface Under Joule Heating and Viscous Dissipation Effects

Dynamics of Chemically Reactive Magnetized Casson Nanofluid Flow over a Sensor Surface Under Joule Heating and Viscous Dissipation Effects

A sustainable waterproof temperature sensor made with single-use-packets and enhancement of its sensing performance by depositing the g-C3N4/BiOBr composite on its surface

Currently, flexible temperature sensors are highly demanded for processes in the food industry. However, they have a high cost and most of them detect temperatures only below 80 °C. To fabricate temperature sensors at lower cost, temperature sensors were fabricated by printing graphene ink on recycled plastics (obtained from single-use-packets). Firstly, sensors made exclusively with graphene were tested for the temperature detection, but no detection signal was obtained. Subsequently, the sensors were coated with g-C3N4 (gCN)/BiBrO composite microparticles and those ones produced response times of 8–12.2 s when they are detecting temperatures of 60–120 °C in air. For this same detection range, the recovery times varied from 19 to 27.6 s. The sensors were also tested in hot water and detected temperatures of 60–92 °C. Interestingly, lower response/recovery times of 5–7.8/7–14.7 s were obtained in comparison with the sensors used in air. The surface of the sensors exposed to different temperatures was also analyzed by Raman and XPS techniques. After this, we found that the highest amount of defects (oxygen vacancies) are present in the sensor used for the temperature detection of 90 °C. If the temperature detection is increased to 120 °C, graphene oxide is formed on the sensor's surface as well as Bi-O-C and Br-C bonds. Those ones indicate a better chemical linking between the gCN/BiBrO and the graphene layer, which in turn, favored the electron transport through the sensor and lowered the response time at high temperatures. In general, the results of this research indicate that recycled plastics can be used for the fabrication of inexpensive waterproof temperature sensors, which can operate in air or underwater. The sensors studied here could be of interest for the food industry or for the monitoring of temperatures under rain.

Aerosol Jet Printing of Strain Sensors for Soft Robotics

The field of soft robotics is rapidly progressing toward applications including; wearable electronics, prosthetics, and biomedical devices. This is leading to demand for flexible, embedded high‐performance strain sensors to deliver real‐time feedback on the static configurations and dynamic motions of these robotic devices, to ultimately enable the levels of autonomous control and structural monitoring required for intelligent manipulation. Herein, aerosol jet printing (AJP) technology is utilized to generate arbitrary piezoresistive strain sensor layouts on fibrous paper suitable for direct integration into elastomeric soft robots. A custom graphene nanoplatelet ink with a viscosity of around 2.70 cP has been formulated for optimized atomization and patterning of conductive traces via AJP. Single and multilayer printing onto different paper substrates are explored; with the nominal resistance of the printed tracks varying from 272 to 4900 kΩ depending on paper type and number of layers. Maximum gauge factors of 24.2 ± 1.8 and 56.5 ± 4.5 are determined for sensor surfaces under tensile and compression modes, respectively. To demonstrate the possibility for direct integration of this approach for soft robotics, strain sensors are directly printed onto the strain‐limiting layer of a pneumatic soft robotic gripper, to provide continuous feedback of the gripper over curvatures up to 80 m−1.

Hybridization chain reaction assisted terahertz metamaterial biosensor for highly sensitive detection of microRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer. Accurate determination of the miRNA concentration is of great significance for early cancer diagnosis. However, due to the short sequence and low concentration of miRNA, it is still a challenge to achieve low-concentration detection. In this work, we proposed a method for the highly sensitive detection of miRNA-21 using a terahertz (THz) metamaterial sensor combined with a Hybridization chain reaction (HCR). First, a capture hairpin probe was combined with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which were then modified to the surface of the sensor for specific binding of miRNA-21. Then the signal amplification technique of HCR is used to amplify the trace amount of miRNA, and the super-long dendritic DNA macromolecules are formed on the surface of the sensor. This changes the dielectric environment of the sensor surface, and the resonance frequency of the sensor is shifted. The method has good specificity and sensitivity, and the concentration of miRNA-21 in the range of 100 aM to 10 nM shows excellent linear relationship with frequency shift. Most importantly, it paves the way for low-cost, easy-to-operate and marker-free miRNA detection.

E. coli O157:H7 Detection Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Based Biosensor

The detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria remains a significant challenge, and the need for fast and sensitive detection methods is becoming increasingly important. Escherichia coli is a prevalent bacteria associated with foodborne illness, and this study aimed to evaluate the ability of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based biosensor to detect E. coli O157:H7 at low levels in pure culture and artificially contaminated bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) using different injection methods. To develop a biological sensing surface, the sensor surface was functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and polyclonal antibodies were immobilized on the surface for bacteria detection. Bacterial attachment to the antibodies resulted in a change in resonance angle. The biosensor was able to discriminate between cellular concentrations of 103 to 107 CFU/mL and showed potential in detecting different pathogens in various food samples. Before the SPR detection, the sample preparation step was optimized to ensure complex food matrices were suitable for SPR analysis. The results suggest that the SPR based biosensor is a promising tool for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in complex food matrices.

Ultrasensitive HCHO sensor based on Cr-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles with full recoverability and decisive anti-humidity ability

Notably, the Cr-doped sensor sense the 100-ppb formaldehyde which is below the 740-ppb permissible exposure limit (fixed by WHO). A highly crystalline puny-size nanoparticles are obtained by single air-annealing process (400 °C). The size-controlled undoped and Cr-doped cerium nanoparticles produce the oxygen vacancies, helping to expend more active sites to gas molecules. Higher-surface area of doped cerium supports formaldehyde sensing proficiently. The Cr-doped cerium sensor operates at noticeable temperature of 50 and 80 °C for formaldehyde gas where, the sensor responses to ∼2 s and recovered around 3 s (5 ppm), suggesting appreciable signs to formaldehyde detection. The sensor shows the LOD of 0.1 ppm (100 ppb) and unveil the good stability to anti-humidity test. The growing oxygen-vacancies demonstrate the sensor signal increase and also dopant enriches the oxygen-vacancies. The stability of the sensor surface has been identified by ladder-growth of current signal to different concentrations of gas. Current signal to formaldehyde increase implies the enhancement of conductivity. Highly-selective response to formaldehyde attributes to the particle size, oxygen vacancies and bandgap of Cr-doped cerium sensor material. At last, the reproducibility inspection unveils 99.06 % results. Such a high reproducibility confirms the long-term chemical stability and mechanical robustness of sensor, opening a route to developing industrially viable sensor technology.

Engineering an antifouling electrochemical aptasensor based on a designed zwitterionic peptide for tetracycline detection in milk

Interference derived from nonspecific attachment of foulants (e.g. proteins) from food matrices (fouling) on sensor surfaces has always been a major issue in food safety sensing, deteriorating the stability and accuracy of detection. Engineering and introducing antifouling materials on sensors to strongly hydrate their surfaces is a promising approach to address this issue. Here, inspired by a bioactive peptide with antithrombotic function, a novel antifouling zwitterionic peptide (Z-peptide) with a sequence of NH2-CPPPPEKDQDK (C′−N') was designed. The antifouling performance of the proposed Z-peptides modified sensor surface was demonstrated in different protein solutions and milk samples (signal suppression rate as low as 1.87%). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that a large number of hydrogen bonds and strong interaction forces are formed between Z-peptides and water molecules, contributing to the formation of a dense hydration layer on the sensor surface to resist nonspecific adsorption. An electrochemical aptasensor based on the Z-peptide was developed for tetracycline (TC) detection. The proposed sensor was able to detect TC with a wide linear range (0.01–100 ng mL−1) and a low limit of detection (LOD = 2.91 pg mL−1, S/N﹦3) and showed favorable specificity and stability. Given the excellent resistance to nonspecific adsorption, the antifouling sensor was capable of assaying TC in milk by diluting without other pretreatments (recoveries: 107.17%–110.16%).

Development of the error reducing method for the determination of the alternating current amplitude without the use of current transformers

The object of the research is methods of current amplitude identification without using current transformers. Most solutions are built on reed switches, which have a limitation of the operation speed due to the mechanical nature of the reed contacts. Therefore, the time duration is a random variable with a significant variation. Thus, the problem that needs to be solved is the reduction of the error of current amplitude identification associated with the mechanical properties of contacts. According to the conducted literature analysis, the presence of contact bounce of reed switches increases the errors of sinusoidal current amplitude identification approximately up to 8–10 %. The mathematical modeling allowed us to investigate this phenomenon and research its influence on the method. The suggested model was then approved via in-situ modeling. Consequently, to reduce the errors of measuring the current amplitude via a reed switch, the replacement with an analog or discrete Hall sensor was proposed. A mathematical model of the discrete Hall sensor operation and a method for identifying the amplitude of the alternating current were developed. During the experiment, it was found that the analog Hall sensor has a limitation in measuring currents of large rates, at which the discrete sensor worked stably. Hence, the last was chosen. It is worth noting that the study of the behavior of the Hall sensor was limited to the value of the alternating current amplitude, four times the opening current with an average error of less than 3 %. The method suitable for discrete Hall sensors simplifies and reduces the cost of the measuring instrument design. However, the practical implementation of the suggested method requires also the application of devices concentrating the magnetic field on the Hall sensor surface

Multiplexed soft candy-based sensor for salivary conductivity diagnostics with uneven wetting detection capability

The wetting conundrum in soft candy-based sensors for salivary electrical conductivity diagnostics was solved in this study. Instead of using ill-suited conventional wetting strategies that require modification of the sensor surface, simple time multiplexing was achieved using four measurement points across the sensor surface and taking four 30 s measurements sequentially between these points. Using 0.01, 0.1, and 0.2 M phosphate-buffered saline, both qualitative and quantitative distinctions between uneven and complete wetting were made via wetting signature comparison. The soft candy-based sensor exhibits a limit of detection of 0.01 M (206 µS/cm). Although it demonstrates a lower performance than a commercially available conductivity tester, it is adequate for chronic kidney disease diagnosis. In the human lick test, it yielded human saliva conductivity of ∼3535 µS/cm, which is consistent with that measured by conductivity tester and that reported in literature. More importantly, the previously established wetting signatures are also relevant to human saliva. The sensor could also be further licked to achieve complete wetting and proper measurements without being discarded.

Imaging low-energy positron beams in real-time with unprecedented resolution

Particle beams focused to micrometer-sized spots play a crucial role in forefront research using low-energy positrons. Their expedient and wide application, however, requires highly-resolved, fast beam diagnostics. We have developed two different methods to modify a commercial imaging sensor to make it sensitive to low-energy positrons. The first method consists in removing the micro-lens array and Bayer filter from the sensor surface and depositing a phosphor layer in their place. This procedure results in a detector capable of imaging positron beams with energies down to a few tens of eV, or an intensity as low as 35e+/s/mm2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${35}\\,{\\hbox {e}^+/\\hbox {s/mm}^{2}}$$\\end{document} when the beam energy exceeds 10 keV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\hbox {keV}}$$\\end{document}. The second approach omits the phosphor deposition; with the resulting device we succeeded in detecting single positrons with energies upwards of 6keV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${6}\\,{\\hbox {keV}}$$\\end{document} and efficiency up to 93%. The achieved spatial resolution of 0.97 μm\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\upmu \\hbox {m}$$\\end{document} is unprecedented for real-time positron detectors.

Exploring the impact of incubation times and concentrations of self-assembled monolayers on electron transfer in biosensing

This study investigates the impact of different incubation times and concentrations of a self-assembled monolayer (SAMs) of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) on the rate of electron transfer in redox processes. The aim is to understand how these parameters can affect the sensitivity and efficiency of biosensors based on direct electron transfer in redox proteins. Through a series of experiments, different incubation times and concentrations of MPA were examined to determine their impact on the electron-transfer rate. Using methylene blue MB molecules as a model system and employing the EC-SPR technique, the reflectance differences (ΔR) between the reduced and oxidized states of MB were analyzed, serving as an indicator of the electron transfer rate. The results revealed significant variations in the rate depending on the incubation times and concentrations of the MPA. It was determined that a combination of 1 mM MPA concentration and 6-hour incubation time provided optimal conditions for maintaining a significant (ΔR). These findings have important implications for optimizing sensor surfaces in biosensors based on direct electron transfer in redox proteins.

Trinitroaromatic explosives: Modern application, toxicological characterization, and methods of determination

Explosives such as tetryl and picric acid, which were common in the past, now have lost their combat relevance. However, they are often used for peaceful purposes individually and in combination with other trinitroaromatic compounds (e.g., trinitrotoluene). As a result of their use, environmental pollution occurs, followed by intoxication of plants, animals, and people. Cases of explosive poisoning during their production are also described.&#x0D; The symptoms of poisoning include both of general disorders and specific phenomena such as skin staining, impaired physiological efficiency of NADPh-dependent enzymes, genotoxicity, and immunotoxicity.&#x0D; Previous scientific studies established a trend toward the development of chemical-analytical probes. Various options for the sensor surface of the device and methods for detecting compounds are considered. To determine the explosives, ion mobility spectrometry is widely used, which is very rare for the chemicaltoxicological analysis of other groups of compounds.&#x0D; Simultaneously, methods commonly used in the analysis of narcotic and psychotropic substances (gas chromatography/ combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry methods) are also applicable to determine trinitroaromatic explosives. However, the presence of nitro groups in their structure complicates such an analysis. This problem can be resolved by injecting cold samples directly to the column.&#x0D; Despite the availability of various developed techniques and methods, the possibility of their application to study biological matrices remains insufficient.&#x0D; Therefore, further studies of the chemicaltoxicological nature should be conducted to establish the optimal conditions for extracting the substances in question, the parameters of instrumental analysis, and the possibility of storing samples and for solving other problems of forensic medical examination.

Equivalent circuit of a planar microwave liquid sensor based on metamaterial complementary split ring resonator

Abstract In the present work, a study of a metamaterial complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) microwave planar sensor for dielectric liquid characterization is carried out using HFSS software. The design consists in a CSRR-loaded two ports rectangular patch microstrip-fed grounded planar structure. The investigated liquid sample is put in a capillary glass tube lying parallel to the surface of the sensor. The liquid test tube is deposited horizontally parallel to the surface of the planar sensor. The advantage of the design lies on the fact that it allows different orientations and multiple size possibilities of the test tube. This makes it possible to explore different resonant frequencies in the 2.1 GHz frequency band. Moreover, an optimization study is carried out to achieve a high sensitivity and a high-quality factor of the proposed sensor. To better understand the operation and to further verify the feasibility of the equivalent circuit, a parallel RLC resonant circuit is used to obtain the desired Z parameter responses Z 11, Z 22, Z 21. A T-shaped electrical model of the proposed sensing structure is established using Advanced Design System (ADS) software. This latter constitutes one of the principal novelties of this work, which has never been addressed so far.

Low-cost, interdigitated capacitive sensor using laser-written graphene foam for touch, proximity, and liquid level detection

Flexible capacitive sensors are gaining popularity in place of sophisticated optical sensing or bulky mechanical designs for specific applications such as proximity/gesture detection and liquid level sensing. So, here, we propose Laser Induced Graphene Foam (LIGF) based planar capacitive sensors, which are flexible, highly sensitive, energy-efficient, and cost-effective, making them accessible for various applications. The working of these sensors involves the interdigitated planar electrode configuration and the fringing effect, influencing capacitance when the permittivity or the electric charge of the surrounding medium changes. LIGF planar capacitive elements were produced on a commercially availed polymer polyimide by using direct laser writing technique employing a low-cost diode laser. The developed LIGF-based planar capacitive touch sensor showed an average touch response (|ΔC/Co|) of more than 49%; moreover, when used for proximity sensing, this sensor could detect the presence of human hand up to a maximum distance of 170 mm from the sensor surface. An extended design of the sensor has demonstrated liquid level sensing with an accuracy of 0.97 mm. As a result of its ability to sense dielectric materials, contactless operation, long-range sensing, cost-effectiveness, low-power consumption, and environmental friendliness, the LIGF electrode-based capacitive sensor can be incorporated into a variety of modern technology and devices.

Fluorescent bacteria detection in water using cell imprinted polymer (CIP) coated microparticles in a magnetophoretic microfluidic device

Molecular imprinting has advanced towards synthesizing whole-cell imprints of microorganisms such as bacteria on various sensor surfaces including wire electrodes, quartz crystal microbalances, and microparticles (MPs). We recently introduced cell-imprinted polymers (CIPs) coated on MPs, called CIP-MPs, for bacteria recovery from water. In this paper, we have advanced towards rapid fluorometric Escherichia coli (E. coli) detection by applying fluorescent magnetic CIP-MPs, which were captured by soft ferromagnetic microstructures integrated into a microfluidic channel. The shape of ferromagnetic microstructures was optimized numerically to enhance the magnetophoretic accumulation of CIP-MPs in the microchannel. The device was then fabricated and the flow rate required to enhance bacteria capturing efficiency by CIP-MPs was determined. Decreasing the flow rate reduced the flow-induced drag and increased the interactions between the bacteria and imprinted CIP cavities. Fluorescent imaging of the accumulated CIP-MPs was done before and after bacteria capturing to quantify the changes in the fluorescence intensity as E. coli cells were captured by CIP-MPs in the microchannel. The dose-response curve of the sensor at 0–109 CFU/mL bacterial counts was obtained. Using the 3- and 10-sigma methods on the dose-response curve, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of the sensor were determined to be 4 × 102 and 3 × 103 CFU/mL, respectively, within a dynamic range of 102–107 CFU/mL. Lastly, the specificity of the CIP-MPbased sensor towards E. coli was tested and confirmed using Sarcina as a non-specific target bacterium. In summary, our developed sensor offers a promising approach for rapid and low-cost detection of bacteria in water and is suitable for development of portable and durable all-polymeric sensors for point-of-need detection.