A Self-Referencing Detection of Microorganisms Using Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanoprobes in a Test-in-a-Tube Platform

Biosensors

Nan Xiao¹  Chao Wang¹ 

[1] Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA;

关键词: surface enhanced Raman scattering;    self-referencing;    microorganism;    nanoparticles;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bios3030312

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Anisotropic nanoparticles (i.e., silver nanocubes) were functionalized with target-specific antibodies and Raman active tags to serve as nanoprobes for the rapid detection of bacteria in a test-in-a-tube platform. A self-referencing scheme was developed and implemented in which surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) signatures of the targets were observed superimposed with the SERS signals of the Raman tags. The assessment through the dual signals (superimposed target and tag Raman signatures) supported a specific recognition of the targets in a single step with no washing/separation needed to a sensitivity of 10² CFU/mL, even in the presence of non-target bacteria at a 10 times higher concentration. The self-referencing protocol implemented with a portable Raman spectrometer potentially can become an easy-to-use, field-deployable spectroscopic sensor for onsite detection of pathogenic microorganisms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.