Rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection of pathogens based on silver-urease interactions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Microbial contamination of drinking water poses significant health risks.
• Accurate and rapid detection methods for pathogens are crucial for public health.
• Existing methods can be complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and economic colorimetric assay for detecting microbial pathogens in drinking water.
• To utilize silver-nanoparticle-urease interactions for pathogen sensing.
• To provide a field-friendly method for assessing bacterial contamination.

Main Methods:

• Receptor-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized.
• AgNPs were employed to capture bacterial pathogens.
• Urease enzyme activity was used to detect pathogen presence via pH change.
• A pH-responsive chromogenic dye was used for colorimetric readout.

Main Results:

• The assay demonstrated effective colorimetric detection of microbial pathogens.
• The method showed sensitivity down to 10^2 cells/mL for bacterial contamination.
• The approach is suitable for field applications due to its simplicity and low cost.

Conclusions:

• A novel, economical, and field-friendly colorimetric method for detecting microbial pathogens in drinking water was successfully developed.
• The silver-urease interaction provides a reliable basis for pathogen sensing.
• This assay can contribute to improved drinking water quality monitoring.