Nanoscale Biosensor for Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria under Field Conditions

A team of bioengineers used nanoscale technology to develop a simple, portable biosensor system for detection of pathogenic bacteria – such as the diarrhea-causing Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7 – under field conditions.

Investigators at Washington State University (Pullman, USA) used organic and inorganic components to create nanoparticles, which resembled miniature flowers under the microscope. These "nanoflowers" provided a large surface area for immobilizing the enzymes that needed to detect low levels of the bacteria. Binding of the specific target bacteria triggered a change in acidity that was amplified to be measurable on a handheld pH meter or with a pH indicator paper strip.

“We want to take these nanoflowers and create a simple-to-use, handheld device that anyone can use anywhere,” said senior author Dr. Yuehe Lin, professor of mechanical and materials engineering at Washington State University. “It will be as simple as using a pregnancy test strip or a glucose meter.”

A patent application has been filed for the methodology, which was also described in the June 15, 2016, issue of the journal Small.

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