Amplification-free detection of Escherichia coli using an acidic deoxyribozyme-based paper device

Abstract

We reported a colorimetric paper-based device by integrating the modified acid RNA-cleaving DNAzymes (MaRCD-EC1) for highly sensitive (detection limit = 10² CFU mL⁻¹), and rapid (within 30 min) detection of E. coli without amplification. This device exhibited a clinical sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% in identifying E. coli-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) using the clinical urine samples.