Bacterial detection using a carbon nanotube gas sensor coupled with a microheater for ammonia synthesis by aerobic oxidisation of organic components

In this study, the authors propose a new bacteria detection method using a carbon nanotube (CNT) gas sensor and a microheater, which were coupled into a Bio-MEMS (microelectromechanical systems)-type device. Bacteria were heated by the microheater in air so that ammonia (NH₃) gas can be generated by the oxidation reaction of organic components of bacteria. Thus generated NH₃ gas was detected by using the CNT gas sensor, which was fabricated by dielectrophoresis (DEP) and combined with the microheater to form a small chamber. Cyclic pulsed heating operation was employed so that the CNT response to elevated temperature did not mask NH₃ response. It was demonstrated that the proposed device could detect and quantify 10⁷ bacteria cells (Escherichia coli). Possible application of DEP to trap and enrich target bacteria on the microheater was also discussed.