A research team, led by Yuehe Lin at Washington State University (WSU), the United States, has developed a portable biosensor that makes it easier to detect harmful food bacteria such as E. coli. The key to a better sensor is maintaining a large amount of enzyme activity for detecting antigens in a sample.
To address this issue, the researchers developed a particle at the nanoscale that includes organic and inorganic components and looks like a tiny flower. Smaller than a speck of dust and made up of a group of molecules, the nano-sized flower and petals provide a large surface area for immobilizing the highly active enzymes that are needed to detect the bacteria at low levels.
The nanoflower is able to recognize the bacteria and amplify its signal so that it can be seen with a simple handheld pH meter or pH indicator paper strip. The researchers have filed a patent for the handheld device concept and are working to switch out components of the nanoflower to detect disease markers as well as other pathogens such as salmonella.
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Biosensors to detect E. coli
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