Recent advances in bioelectrochemical detection of E. coli bacteria in saline buffers and spiked real samples using traditional and nanostructured active substrates

A rapid and cost-effective method to specifically identify and quantify pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in aqueous samples and food products is highly recommended to avoid the degradation of human health that can unfortunately lead to fatal cases. To overcome these borderline situations, portable and easy-to-use screening devices are needed for the non-expert public and confirmed by medical personnel/physicians who can quickly guide/prescribe antibiotic treatments. In such a context, nanotechnologies are very promising and useful tools due to the remarkable optical, chemical and physical properties of biocompatible nanomaterials deposited or synthesized on traditional solid electrodes that greatly improve the detection limit and the selectivity of nanostructured-based biosensors. With this in mind, this review summarizes the latest advances in the bioelectrochemical detection of E. coli and its related products using different biosensor configurations in saline buffers and spiked real samples, namely food products (milk, fruits, vegetables), body fluids (blood, urine, swine feces) and river water.