A high density microelectrode array biosensor for detection of E. coli O157:H7

Lab on a chip sensor for rapid detection and antibiotic resistance determination of Staphylococcus aureus

The Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), is a major pathogen responsible for a variety of infectious diseases ranging from cellulitis to more serious conditions such as septic arthritis and septicaemia. Timely treatment with appropriate antibiotic therapy is essential to ensure clinical defervescence and to prevent further complications such as infective endocarditis or organ impairment due to septic shock. To date, initial antibiotic choice is empirical, using a "best guess" of likely organism and sensitivity- an approach adopted due to the lack of rapid identification methods for bacteria. Current culture based methods take up to 5 days to identify the causative bacterial pathogen and its antibiotic sensitivity. This paper provides proof of concept for a biosensor, based on interdigitated electrodes, to detect the presence of S. aureus and ascertain its sensitivity to flucloxacillin rapidly (within 2 hours) in a cost effective manner. The proposed method is label-free and uses non-faradic measurements. This is the first study to successfully employ interdigitated electrodes for the rapid detection of antibiotic resistance. The method described has important potential outcomes of faster definitive antibiotic treatment and more rapid clinical response to treatment.

Use of a CD laser pickup head to fabricate microelectrodes in polymethylmethacrylate substrates for biosensing applications

In this work, we report a simple fabrication method for microelectrodes on a polymethylmethacrylate substrate, using a low-cost laser platform based on a CD-DVD unit for direct rapid-prototyping. We used this laser microfabrication technique to etch any desired design on polymethylmethacrylate substrates to produce microchannels with controlled geometry, with a highly repeatable micron-scale resolution. Those shallow microchannels were then filled with a conductive paste of material of our choice that was converted into microelectrodes of desired shapes and geometries after drying. To validate our process, different geometries, sizes and materials were used as electrodes, and then tested for amperometry and impedance measurements. Development of these microelectrodes is motivated by their potential application in sensors and biosensors, such as glucose and cell counting, as demonstrated in this paper.

An electrochemical cytosensor for ultrasensitive detection of cancer cells using modified graphene–gold nanostructures

The ultrasensitive detection of human prostate metastatic cancer cells (Du-145) was investigated through a novel electrochemical cytosensor.

Biosensors of bacterial cells

Biosensors are devices which utilize both an electrical component (transducer) and a biological component to study an environment. They are typically used to examine biological structures, organisms and processes. The field of biosensors has now become so large and varied that the technology can often seem impenetrable. Yet the principles which underlie the technology are uncomplicated, even if the details of the mechanisms are elusive. In this review we confine our analysis to relatively current advancements in biosensors for the detection of whole bacterial cells. This includes biosensors which rely on an added labeled component and biosensors which do not have a labeled component and instead detect the binding event or bound structure on the transducer. Methods to concentrate the bacteria prior to biosensor analysis are also described. The variety of biosensor types and their actual and potential uses are described.

Highly sensitive label-free dual sensor array for rapid detection of wound bacteria

Wound infections are a critical healthcare concern worldwide. Rapid and effective antibiotic treatments that can mitigate infection severity and prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance are contingent upon timely infection detection. In this work, dual electrochemical pH and cell-attachment sensor arrays were developed for the real-time spatial and temporal monitoring of potential wound infections. Biocompatible polymeric device coatings were integrated to stabilize the sensors and promote bacteria attachment while preventing non-specific cell and protein fouling. High sensitivity (bacteria concentration of 10² colony forming units (CFU)/mL and -88.1±6.3mV/pH over a pH range of 1-13) and stability over 14 days were achieved without the addition of biological recognition elements. The dual sensor array was demonstrated to successfully monitor the growth of both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) and gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) over time through lag and log growth phases and following antibiotic administration and in simulated shallow wounds conditions. The versatile fabrication methods utilized in sensor development, superior sensitivity, prolonged stability, and lack of non-specific sensor fouling may enable long-term in situ sensor array operation in low resource settings.

Combined Dielectrophoresis and Impedance Systems for Bacteria Analysis in Microfluidic On-Chip Platforms

Bacteria concentration and detection is time-consuming in regular microbiology procedures aimed to facilitate the detection and analysis of these cells at very low concentrations. Traditional methods are effective but often require several days to complete. This scenario results in low bioanalytical and diagnostic methodologies with associated increased costs and complexity. In recent years, the exploitation of the intrinsic electrical properties of cells has emerged as an appealing alternative approach for concentrating and detecting bacteria. The combination of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and impedance analysis (IA) in microfluidic on-chip platforms could be key to develop rapid, accurate, portable, simple-to-use and cost-effective microfluidic devices with a promising impact in medicine, public health, agricultural, food control and environmental areas. The present document reviews recent DEP and IA combined approaches and the latest relevant improvements focusing on bacteria concentration and detection, including selectivity, sensitivity, detection time, and conductivity variation enhancements. Furthermore, this review analyses future trends and challenges which need to be addressed in order to successfully commercialize these platforms resulting in an adequate social return of public-funded investments.

Development of a Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Immunosensor for Detection of 10 Major O-Antigens on Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, with a Gel Displacement Technique To Remove Bound Bacteria

A surface plasmon resonance-based immunosensor (SPR-immunosensor) was developed for the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) belonging to the O-antigen groups O26, O91, O103, O111, O115, O121, O128, O145, O157, and O159. The polyclonal antibodies (PoAbs) generated against each of the STEC O-antigen types in rabbits were purified and were immobilized on the sensor chip at 0.5 mg/mL. The limit of detection for STEC O157 by the SPR-immunosensor was found to be 6.3 × 10(4) cells for 75 s. Each of the examined 10 O-antigens on the STECs was detected by the corresponding PoAb with almost no reaction to the other PoAbs. The detected STECs were sufficiently removed from the PoAbs using gelatin or agarose gel without deactivation of the PoAbs, enabling repeatable use of the sensor chip. The developed SPR-immunosensor can be applied for the detection of multiple STEC O-antigens. Furthermore, the new antigen removal technique using the gel displacement approach can be utilized with various immunosensors to improve the detection of pathogens in clinical and public health settings.

Miniaturized Flow Stacked Immunoassay for Detecting Escherichia coli in a Single Step

Commercially available systems that provide cost-effective, fast, simple, and portable solutions for health and environmental applications are few despite advancements in bioassays and biosensor research. We have developed a new system based on stacked membranes, each layer with a specific function. Samples were added onto the bottom-most layer, and as each layer becomes wet, the analyte pushes through to the next membrane layers. During migration, the analyte attaches with the corresponding antibody, itself conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to produce a measurable signal. To prevent false positive results, blocking layer membranes are added to stop unbound antibodies from reaching the top membrane. Thus, only analyte/antibody-HRP complex will generate a signal. In order to prove this concept, Escherichia coli was used as the target analyte. After optimization, our immunoassay sensitivity was adjusted to 100 cells mL(-1). Different environmental water sources were also tested to demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of our proposed stacked bioassay. Simplicity, low price, sensitivity, and modularity (capability to change to any target analyte) make this idea very promising for future commercialization.

Quantitative Study of Cell Invasion Process under Extracellular Stimulation of Cytokine in a Microfluidic Device

Cell invasion is the first step of cancer metastasis that is the primary cause of death for cancer patients and defined as cell movement through extracellular matrix (ECM). Investigation of the correlation between cell invasive and extracellular stimulation is critical for the inhabitation of metastatic dissemination. Conventional cell invasion assay is based on Boyden chamber assay, which has a number of limitations. In this work, a microfluidic device incorporating with impedance measurement technique was developed for quantitative investigation of cell invasion process. The device consisted of 2 reservoirs connecting with a microchannel filled with hydrogel. Malignant cells invaded along the microchannel and impedance measurement was concurrently conducted by measuring across electrodes located at the bottom of the microchannel. Therefore, cell invasion process could be monitored in real-time and non-invasive manner. Also, cell invasion rate was then calculated to study the correlation between cell invasion and extracellular stimulation, i.e., IL-6 cytokine. Results showed that cell invasion rate was directly proportional to the IL-6 concentration. The microfluidic device provides a reliable and convenient platform for cell-based assays to facilitate more quantitative assessments in cancer research.

Measuring Electrolyte Impedance and Noise Simultaneously by Triangular Waveform Voltage and Principal Component Analysis

In order to measure the impedance variation process in electrolyte solutions, a method of triangular waveform voltage excitation is investigated together with principal component analysis (PCA). Using triangular waveform voltage as the excitation signal, the response current during one duty cycle is sampled to construct a measurement vector. The measurement matrix is then constructed by the measurement vectors obtained from different measurements. After being processed by PCA, the changing information of solution impedance is contained in the loading vectors while the response current and noise information is contained in the score vectors. The measurement results of impedance variation by the proposed signal processing method are independent of the equivalent impedance model. The noise-induced problems encountered during equivalent impedance calculation are therefore avoided, and the real-time variation information of noise in the electrode-electrolyte interface can be extracted at the same time. Planar-interdigitated electrodes are experimentally tested for monitoring the KCl concentration variation process. Experimental results indicate that the measured impedance variation curve reflects the changing process of solution conductivity, and the amplitude distribution of the noise during one duty cycle can be utilized to analyze the contact conditions of the electrode and electrolyte interface.

Study of Polydiacetylene-Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Electrospun Fibers Used as Biosensors

Polydiacetylene (PDA) is an attractive conjugated material for use in biosensors due to its unique characteristic of undergoing a blue-to-red color change in response to external stimuli. 10,12-Pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) were used in this study to develop fiber composites via an electrospinning method at various mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, solution concentrations, and injection speeds. The PEO-PDA fibers in blue phase were obtained via photo-polymerization upon UV-light irritation. High mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, low polymer concentrations of spinning solution, and low injection speeds promoted fine fibers with small diameters and smooth surfaces. The colorimetric transition of the fibers was investigated when the fibers were heated at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 120 °C. A color switch from blue to red in the fibers was observed when the fibers were heated at temperatures greater than 60 °C. The color transition was more sensitive in the fibers made with a low mass ratio of PEO to PCDA due to high fraction of PDA in the fibers. The large diameter fibers also promoted the color switch due to high reflectance area in the fibers. All of the fibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compared before and after the color change occurred. The colorimetric transitional mechanism is proposed to occur due to conformational changes in the PDA macromolecules.

An Improved Ultrasensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Hydrangea-Like Antibody-Enzyme-Inorganic Three-in-One Nanocomposites

Protein-inorganic nanoflowers, composed of protein and copper(II) phosphate (Cu3(PO4)2), have recently grabbed people's attention. Because the synthetic method requires no organic solvent and because of the distinct hierarchical nanostructure, protein-inorganic nanoflowers display enhanced catalytic activity and stability and would be a promising tool in biocatalytical processes and biological and biomedical fields. In this work, we first coimmobilized the enzyme, antibody, and Cu3(PO4)2 into a three-in-one hybrid protein-inorganic nanoflower to enable it to possess dual functions: (1) the antibody portion retains the ability to specifically capture the corresponding antigen; (2) the nanoflower has enhanced enzymatic activity and stability to produce an amplified signal. The prepared antibody-enzyme-inorganic nanoflower was first applied in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to serve as a novel enzyme-labeled antibody for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) determination. The detection limit is 60 CFU L(-1), which is far superior to commercial ELISA systems. The three-in-one antibody (anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody)-enzyme (horseradish peroxidase)-inorganic (Cu3(PO4)2) nanoflower has some advantages over commercial enzyme-antibody conjugates. First, it is much easier to prepare and does not need any complex covalent modification. Second, it has fairly high capture capability and catalytic activity because it is presented as aggregates of abundant antibodies and enzymes. Third, it has enhanced enzymatic stability compared to the free form of enzyme due to the unique hierarchical nanostructure.

Immunosensor for the ultrasensitive and quantitative detection of bladder cancer in point of care testing

An ultrasensitive and real-time impedance based immunosensor has been fabricated for the quantitative detection of Galectin-1 (Gal-1) protein, a biomarker for the onset of multiple oncological conditions, especially bladder cancer. The chip consists of a gold annular interdigitated microelectrode array (3×3 format with a sensing area of 200µm) patterned using standard microfabrication processes, with the ability to electrically address each electrode individually. To improve sensitivity and immobilization efficiency, we have utilized nanoprobes (Gal-1 antibodies conjugated to alumina nanoparticles through silane modification) that are trapped on the microelectrode surface using programmable dielectrophoretic manipulations. The limit of detection of the immunosensor for Gal-1 protein is 0.0078mg/ml of T24 (Grade III) cell lysate in phosphate buffered saline, artificial urine and human urine samples. The normalized impedance variations show a linear dependence on the concentration of cell lysate present while specificity is demonstrated by comparing the immunosensor response for two different grades of bladder cancer cell lysates. We have also designed a portable impedance analyzing device to connect the immunosensor for regular checkup in point of care testing with the ability to transfer data over the internet using a personal computer. We believe that this diagnostic system would allow for improved public health monitoring and aid in early cancer diagnosis.

An incremental double-layer capacitance of a planar nano gap and its application in cardiac-troponin T detection

Surface potential is one of the most important properties at solid-liquid interfaces. It can be modulated by the voltage applied on the electrode or by the surface properties. Hence, surface potential is a good indicator for surface modifications, such as biomolecular bindings. In this work, we proposed a planar nano-gap structure for surface-potential difference monitoring. Based on the proposed architecture, the variance of surface-potential difference can be determined by electrical double layer capacitance (EDLC) between the nano-gap electrodes. Using cyclic voltammetry method, in this work, we demonstrated a relationship between surface potential and EDLC by chemically modifying surface properties. Finally, we also showed the proposed planar nano-gap device provides the capability for cardiac-troponin T (cTnT) measurements with co-existed 10 µg/ml BSA interference. The detection dynamic range is from 100 pg/ml to 1 µg/ml. Based on experimental results and extrapolation, the detection limit is less than 100 pg/ml in diluted PBS buffer (0.01X PBS). These results demonstrated the planar nano-gap architecture having potentials on biomolecular detection through monitoring of surface-potential variation.

A Label-Free Impedance Immunosensor Using Screen-Printed Interdigitated Electrodes and Magnetic Nanobeads for the Detection of E. coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the leading bacterial pathogens causing foodborne illness. In this study, an impedance immunosensor based on the use of magnetic nanobeads and screen-printed interdigitated electrodes was developed for the rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7. Magnetic nanobeads coated with anti-E. coli antibody were mixed with an E. coli sample and used to isolate and concentrate the bacterial cells. The sample was suspended in redox probe solution and placed onto a screen-printed interdigitated electrode. A magnetic field was applied to concentrate the cells on the surface of the electrode and the impedance was measured. The impedance immunosensor could detect E. coli O157:H7 at a concentration of 10^4.45 cfu·mL⁻¹ (~1400 bacterial cells in the applied volume of 25 μL) in less than 1 h without pre-enrichment. A linear relationship between bacteria concentration and impedance value was obtained between 10⁴ cfu·mL⁻¹ and 10⁷ cfu·mL⁻¹. Though impedance measurement was carried out in the presence of a redox probe, analysis of the equivalent circuit model showed that the impedance change was primarily due to two elements: Double layer capacitance and resistance due to electrode surface roughness. The magnetic field and impedance were simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software.

Rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in foods using an electrochemical immunosensor based on screen-printed interdigitated microelectrode and immunomagnetic separation

Foodborne pathogens have continuously been a serious food safety issue and there is a growing demand for a rapid and sensitive method to screen the pathogens for on-line or in-field applications. Therefore, an impedimetric immunosensor based on the use of magnetic beads (MBs) for separation and a screen-printed interdigitated microelectrode (SP-IDME) for measurement was studied for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in foods. Streptavidin coated MBs were functionalized with corresponding biotinylated antibodies (Ab) to capture the target bacteria. The glucose oxidase (GOx)-Ab conjugates were employed to label the MBs-Ab-cell complexes. The yielded MBs-Ab-cell-Ab-GOx biomass was mixed with the glucose solution to trigger an enzymatic reaction which produced gluconic acid. This increased the ion strength of the solution, thus decreasing the impedance of the solution measured on the SP-IDME. Our results showed that the immunosensor was capable of specifically detecting E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium within the range of 10(2)-10(6) cfu ml(-1) in the pure culture samples. E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef and S. Typhimurium in chicken rinse water were also examined. The limits of detection (LODs) for the two bacteria in foods were 2.05×10(3) cfu g(-1) and 1.04×10(3) cfu ml(-1), respectively. This immunosensor required only a bare electrode to measure the impedance changes, and no surficial modification on the electrode was needed. It was low-cost, reproducible, easy-to-operate, and easy-to-preserve. All these merits demonstrated this immunosensor has great potential for the rapid and on-site detection of pathogenic bacteria in foods.

Gold nanoparticle-labeled biosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of bacterial pathogens

BACKGROUND

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the major foodborne bacterial pathogens and also a biodefense agent. To ensure food safety and public health, it is very important to develop rapid methods for E. coli O157:H7 detection. In this study, we designed a nanoparticle-labeled biosensor for the rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7 in broth.

RESULTS

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were conjugated with monoclonal antibodies (Abs) to separate target E. coli O157:H7 cells from broth samples. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were conjugated with polyclonal Abs, and were then introduced to the MNP-target complex to form a sandwich MNP-target-AuNP. By measuring the amount of AuNPs through an electrochemical method, the presence and the amount of the target bacteria were determined. Results showed a sensitivity of 10(1) colony forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) with a linear range of 10(1)-10(6) cfu/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to conventional culture plating methods, the biosensor reduced the detection time from 2 to 4 days to less than 1 hour with a simple target extraction method. The AuNP-labeled biosensor has potential applications in the rapid detection of infectious agents for public health, biodefense, and food/water safety.

Single Cell Electrical Characterization Techniques

Electrical properties of living cells have been proven to play significant roles in understanding of various biological activities including disease progression both at the cellular and molecular levels. Since two decades ago, many researchers have developed tools to analyze the cell’s electrical states especially in single cell analysis (SCA). In depth analysis and more fully described activities of cell differentiation and cancer can only be accomplished with single cell analysis. This growing interest was supported by the emergence of various microfluidic techniques to fulfill high precisions screening, reduced equipment cost and low analysis time for characterization of the single cell’s electrical properties, as compared to classical bulky technique. This paper presents a historical review of single cell electrical properties analysis development from classical techniques to recent advances in microfluidic techniques. Technical details of the different microfluidic techniques are highlighted, and the advantages and limitations of various microfluidic devices are discussed.

Simultaneous monitoring of Staphylococcus aureus growth in a multi-parametric microfluidic platform using microscopy and impedance spectroscopy

We describe the design, construction, and characterization of a scalable microfluidic platform that allows continuous monitoring of biofilm proliferation under shear stress conditions. Compared to other previous end-point assay studies, our platform offers the advantages of integration into multiple environments allowing simultaneous optical microscopy and impedance spectroscopy measurements. In this work we report a multi-parametric sensor that can monitor the growth and activity of a biofilm. This was possible by combining two interdigitated microelectrodes (IDuEs), and punctual electrodes to measure dissolved oxygen, K+, Na+ and pH. The IDuE has been optimized to permit sensitive and reliable impedance monitoring of Staphylococcus aureus V329 growth with two- and four-electrode measurements. We distinguished structural and morphological changes on intact cellular specimens using four-electrode data modeling. We also detected antibiotic mediated effects using impedance. Results were confirmed by scanning electrode microscopy and fluorescence microscopy after live/dead cell staining. The bacitracin mediated effects detected with impedance prove that the approach described can be used for guiding the development of novel anti-biofilm agents to better address bacterial infection.

NAIL: Nucleic Acid detection using Isotachophoresis and Loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Nucleic acid amplification tests are the gold standard for many infectious disease diagnoses due to high sensitivity and specificity, rapid operation, and low limits of detection. Despite the advantages of nucleic acid amplification tests, they currently offer limited point-of-care (POC) utility due to the need for complex instruments and laborious sample preparation. We report the development of the Nucleic Acid Isotachophoresis LAMP (NAIL) diagnostic device. NAIL uses isotachophoresis (ITP) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to extract and amplify nucleic acids from complex matrices in less than one hour inside of an integrated chip. ITP is an electrokinetic separation technique that uses an electric field and two buffers to extract and purify nucleic acids in a single step. LAMP amplifies nucleic acids at constant temperature and produces large amounts of DNA that can be easily detected. A mobile phone images the amplification results to eliminate the need for laser fluorescent detection. The device requires minimal user intervention because capillary valves and heated air chambers act as passive valves and pumps for automated fluid actuation. In this paper, we describe NAIL device design and operation, and demonstrate the extraction and detection of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 cells from whole milk samples. We use the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) limit of detection (LoD) definitions that take into account the variance from both positive and negative samples to determine the diagnostic LoD. According to the CLSI definition, the NAIL device has a limit of detection (LoD) of 1000 CFU mL(-1) for E. coli cells artificially inoculated into whole milk, which is two orders of magnitude improvement to standard tube-LAMP reactions with diluted milk samples and comparable to lab-based methods. The NAIL device potentially offers significant reductions in the complexity and cost of traditional nucleic acid diagnostics for POC applications.

Detection of Listeria monocytogenes with short peptide fragments from class IIa bacteriocins as recognition elements

We employed a direct peptide-bacteria binding assay to screen peptide fragments for high and specific binding to Listeria monocytogenes. Peptides were screened from a peptide array library synthesized on cellulose membrane. Twenty four peptide fragments (each a 14-mer) were derived from three potent anti-listerial peptides, Leucocin A, Pediocin PA1, and Curvacin A, that belong to class IIa bacteriocins. Fragment Leu10 (GEAFSAGVHRLANG), derived from the C-terminal region of Leucocin A, displayed the highest binding among all of the library fragments toward several pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria, including L. monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The specific binding of Leu10 to L. monocytogenes was further validated using microcantilever (MCL) experiments. Microcantilevers coated with gold were functionalized with peptides by chemical conjugation using a cysteamine linker to yield a peptide density of ∼4.8×10(-3) μmol/cm2 for different peptide fragments. Leu10 (14-mer) functionalized MCL was able to detect Listeria with same sensitivity as that of Leucocin A (37-mer) functionalized MCL, validating the use of short peptide fragments in bacterial detection platforms. Fragment Leu10 folded into a helical conformation in solution, like that of native Leucocin A, suggesting that both Leu10 and Leucocin A may employ a similar mechanism for binding target bacteria. The results show that peptide-conjugated microcantilevers can function as highly sensitive platforms for Listeria detection and hold potential to be developed as biosensors for pathogenic bacteria.

Carbohydrates as new probes for the identification of closely related Escherichia coli strains using surface plasmon resonance imaging

Prevention of foodborne diseases depends highly on our ability to control rapidly and accurately a possible contamination of food. So far, standard procedures for bacterial detection require time-consuming bacterial cultures on plates before the pathogens can be detected and identified. We present here an innovative biochip, based on direct differential carbohydrate recognitions of five closely related Escherichia coli strains, including the enterohemorragic E. coli O157:H7. Our device relies on efficient grafting of simple carbohydrates on a gold surface and on the monitoring of their interactions with bacteria during their culture using surface plasmon resonance imaging. We show that each of the bacteria interacts in a different way with the carbohydrate chip. This allows the detection and discrimination of the tested bacterial strains in less than 10 h from an initial bacterial concentration of 10(2) CFU·mL(-1). This is an improvement over previously described systems in terms of cost, easiness to use, and stability. Easily conceived and easily regenerated, this tool is promising for the future of food safety.

Facile synthesis of multifunctional multi-walled carbon nanotube for pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus detection in fishery and environmental samples

Interest in carbon nanotubes for detecting the presence of pathogens arises because of developments in chemical vapor deposition synthesis and progresses in biomolecular modification. Here we reported the facile synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which functioned as immuno-, magnetic, fluorescent sensors in detecting Vibrio alginolyticus (Va). The structures and properties of functionalized MWCNTs were characterized by ultraviolet (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), magnetic property measurement system (MPMS) and fluorescent spectra (FL). It was found that the functionalized MWCNTs showed: (1) low nonspecific adsorption for antibody-antigen, (2) strong interaction with antibody, and (3) high immune-magnetic activity for pathogenic cells. Further investigations revealed a strong positive linear relationship (R=0.9912) between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of Va in the range of 9.0 × 10(2) to 1.5 × 10(6) cfum L(-1). Moreover, the relative standard deviation for 11 replicate detections of 1.0 × 10(4) cfum L(-1) Va was 2.4%, and no cross-reaction with the other four strains was found, indicating a good specificity for Va detection. These results demonstrated the remarkable advantages of the multifunctional MWCNTs, which offer great potential for the rapid, sensitive and quantitative detection of Va in fishery and environmental samples.

Acetylcholinesterase biosensor for carbaryl detection based on interdigitated array microelectrodes

In this study, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor with superior accuracy and sensitivity was successfully developed based on interdigitated array microelectrodes (IAMs). IAMs have a series of parallel microband electrodes with alternating microbands connected together. Chitosan was used as the enzyme immobilization material, and AChE was used as the model enzyme for carbaryl detection to fabricate AChE biosensor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used in conjunction with the fabricated biosensor to detect pesticide residues. Based on the inhibition of pesticides on the AChE activity, using carbaryl as model compounds, the biosensor exhibited a wide range, low detection limit, and high stability. Moreover, the biosensor can also be used as a new promising tool for pesticide residue analysis.

Continuous size-based separation of microparticles in a microchannel with symmetric sharp corner structures

A new microchannel with a series of symmetric sharp corner structures is reported for passive size-dependent particle separation. Micro particles of different sizes can be completely separated based on the combination of the inertial lift force and the centrifugal force induced by the sharp corner structures in the microchannel. At appropriate flow rate and Reynolds number, the centrifugal force effect on large particles, induced by the sharp corner structures, is stronger than that on small particles; hence after passing a series of symmetric sharp corner structures, large particles are focused to the center of the microchannel, while small particles are focused at two particle streams near the two side walls of the microchannel. Particles of different sizes can then be completely separated. Particle separation with this device was demonstrated using 7.32 μm and 15.5 μm micro particles. Experiments show that in comparison with the prior multi-orifice flow fractionation microchannel and multistage-multiorifice flow fractionation microchannel, this device can completely separate two-size particles with narrower particle stream band and larger separation distance between particle streams. In addition, it requires no sheath flow and complex multi-stage separation structures, avoiding the dilution of analyte sample and complex operations. The device has potentials to be used for continuous, complete particle separation in a variety of lab-on-a-chip and biomedical applications.

Sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay for E. coli O157:H7 detection with signal dual-amplification using glucose oxidase and laccase

A novel, sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay for Escherichia coli O157:H7 detection with signal dual-amplification using glucose oxidase (GOx) and laccase was investigated. The method was based on the characterization of a luminol-H2O2-laccase reaction. Compared with the horseradish peroxidase-based biosensor, laccase exhibited high catalytic activity in strong alkaline medium, which was compatible with the luminol system. The capture antibody was immobilized onto the magnetic bead (MB) surfaces. The detection antibody was linked with GOx through biotin-avidin recognition. Accordingly, the bioconjugation of MB-caputure antibody- E. coli O157:H7-detection antibody-GOx catalyzed the substrate glucose, thereby generating H2O2. E. coli O157:H7 was then detected by measuring the CL intensity after H2O2 formation. Under optimal conditions, the calibration plot obtained for E. coli O157:H7 was approximately linear from 4.3 × 10(3) colony-forming unit (CFU) mL(-1) to 4.3 × 10(5) CFU mL(-1), and the total assay time was <2.0 h without any enrichment. The limit of detection for the assay was 1.2 × 10(3) CFU mL(-1) (3σ), which was considerably lower than that of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (1.0 × 10(5) CFU mL(-1)) (3σ). A series of repeatability measurements of using 1.7 × 10(4) CFU mL(-1) E. coli O157:H7 exhibited reproducible results with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.5% (n = 11). Moreover, the proposed method was successfully used to detect E. coli O157:H7 in synthetic samples (spring water, apple juice, and skim milk), which indicated its potential practical application. This protocol can be applied in various fields of study.

Evaluation of single cell electrical parameters from bioimpedance of a cell suspension

The present study introduces a simple and detailed analysis technique to extract the electrical properties of a single cell from impedance spectroscopy data from a group of cells in suspension, leading to a more reliable and cost effective diagnosis process for disease detection.

New tools and new biology: recent miniaturized systems for molecular and cellular biology

Recent advances in applied physics and chemistry have led to the development of novel microfluidic systems. Microfluidic systems allow minute amounts of reagents to be processed using μm-scale channels and offer several advantages over conventional analytical devices for use in biological sciences: faster, more accurate and more reproducible analytical performance, reduced cell and reagent consumption, portability, and integration of functional components in a single chip. In this review, we introduce how microfluidics has been applied to biological sciences. We first present an overview of the fabrication of microfluidic systems and describe the distinct technologies available for biological research. We then present examples of microsystems used in biological sciences, focusing on applications in molecular and cellular biology.

Rapid quantitative detection of Brucella melitensis by a label-free impedance immunosensor based on a gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode

A rapid and simple method for quantitative monitoring of Brucella melitensis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is reported for the first time. The label-free immunosensors were fabricated by immobilizing Brucella melitensis antibody on the surface of gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (GNP-SPCEs). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and EIS were used to characterize the Brucella melitensis antigen interaction on the surface of GNP-SPCEs with antibody. A general electronic equivalent model of an electrochemical cell was introduced for interpretation of the impedance components of the system. The results showed that the change in electron-transfer resistance (R_ct) was significantly different due to the binding of Brucella melitensis cells. A linear relationship between the R_ct variation and logarithmic value of the cell concentration was found from 4 × 10⁴ to 4 × 10⁶ CFU/mL in pure culture. The label-free impedance biosensor was able to detect as low as 1 × 10⁴ and 4 × 10⁵ CFU/mL of Brucella melitensis in pure culture and milk samples, respectively, in less than 1.5 h. Moreover, a good selectivity versus Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus cells was obtained for our developed immunosensor demonstrating its specificity towards only Brucella melitensis.