{
  "abstract": "Reliable DNA-based detection of Escherichia coli is essential for monitoring bacterial contamination in food, water, and environmental samples. In this work, we developed a label-free and amplification-free UV-Vis absorbance biosensor using carbon dots (Cdots) as optical transducers for the detection of E. coli DNA. Cdots synthesized from chitosan, citric acid, and thiourea were functionalized with NH ₂ -terminated DNA probes through carbodiimide-mediated covalent coupling, enabling stable attachment of amine-modified DNA probes to carboxyl-containing Cdots. Among the tested probe configurations, NH ₂ -BL21 produced the strongest optical response, with a maximum absorbance change of 31.6%, highlighting the importance of both probe sequence and terminal functionalization in enhancing sensor performance. The optimized biosensor exhibited excellent linearity over the 200–2000 fM range, with an R ² of 0.9992, a limit of detection of 147.53 fM, and a limit of quantification of 491.76 fM. In addition, the sensor exhibited sequence-dependent recognition and preferential selectivity toward the tested E. coli DNA target, while its response remained statistically unchanged over four weeks of storage, demonstrating short-term stability under the tested conditions. Mechanistic analysis suggests that the absorbance response reflects multiple hybridization-induced interfacial and optical effects, including increased nucleic-acid absorption near 258 nm and possible contributions from changes in surface charge, the local dielectric environment, particle organization, and light scattering. This label-free and amplification-free absorbance strategy provides a potentially accessible platform for E. coli DNA detection. However, matrix-specific calibration and further validation are required before practical environmental or food-safety deployment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Huyen Ngo Thi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nguyen Le Phan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael Kraft"
    },
    {
      "name": "Son Hai Nguyen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mai Thi Tran",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7993-5735"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4brxw8354s6v5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-77766-1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4brxw8354s6v5",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77766-1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223669170",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77766-1_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4brxw8354s6v5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-77766-1",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77766-1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Development of a simple and robust absorbance-based carbon dot platform for rapid escherichia coli DNA detection",
  "title_text": "Development of a simple and robust absorbance-based carbon dot platform for rapid escherichia coli DNA detection",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4brxw8354s6v5",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}