Research Projects

The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and recurring outbreaks pose a major threat to global health. Current diagnostic methods, such as culture-based techniques, PCR, and immunoassays are often time-consuming, require skilled personnel, and are not suitable for on-site use. In an era where biological threats and antimicrobial resistance are escalating, the need for fast, portable, and reliable bacterial detection systems is critical. The WHO has projected that if no action is taken, antimicrobial resistance could cause nearly 10 million deaths per year, by 2050. Therefore, the development of sensitive, selective, and cost-effective biosensors is urgently needed to enable early pathogen detection and intervention. This project proposes to develop a novel electrochemical biosensor that combines bacteriophage-based biorecognition for high selectivity and bimetallic single-atom catalysts (BSACs) for enhanced sensitivity for the culture-free detection of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia Coli, Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, offering natural host specificity and high selectivity. BSACs, with their atomically dispersed active sites and tunable electronic structures, exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity, enabling ultrasensitive detection of bacterial interactions at the electrode interface. The central hypothesis is that phage-modified BSAC-based electrodes can provide highly selective and sensitive detection through enhanced electrochemical signal transduction. BSACs such as Sn–Eu, Fe–Cu, and Co–Ni will be explored for their ability to amplify phage-bacteria interactions on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) towards the detection of Escherichia Coli, Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are cost-effective, scalable, and field-deployable. Major experiments will include, the synthesis of BSACs (via pyrolysis and wet-chemical methods), phage amplification and immobilization, sensor fabrication, and electrochemical testing using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Performance metrics such as limit of detection, response time, selectivity, and reproducibility will be assessed in environmental, food, and clinical samples. The successful completion of the project will deliver a next-generation biosensing platform combining advanced materials with biological specificity. This could significantly improve rapid pathogen detection in healthcare, aquaculture, food safety, and biodefense, supporting India’s preparedness for future biological threats. The expected technology readiness level (TRL) is 6.