Enhancing low-concentration cell detection in single entity electrochemical systems through forced convection

This study advances the detection of bacteria at low concentrations in single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) systems by integrating forced convection. Our results show that forced convection significantly improves the mass transfer rate of electrolyte, with the mass transfer coefficient demonstrating a proportional relationship to the flow rate to the power of 1.37. Notably, while the collision frequency of E. coli initially increases with the flow rate, a subsequent decrease is observed at higher rates. This pattern is attributed to the mechanics of cell collision under forced convection. Specifically, while forced convection propels cells towards the ultra-microelectrode (UME), it does not aid in their penetration through the boundary layer, leading to cells being driven away from the UME at higher flow rates. This hypothesis is supported by the statistical analysis of collision data, including signal heights and rise times. By optimizing the flow rate to 2 mL/min, we achieved enhanced detection of E. coli in concentrations ranging from 0.9 × 10⁷ to 5.0 × 10⁷ cells/mL. This approach significantly increased collision frequency by elevating the mass transfer of cells, with the mass transfer coefficient rising from 0.1 × 10^-5 m/s to 0.9 × 10^-5 m/s. It provides a viable solution to the challenges of detecting bacteria at low concentrations in SEE systems.