A sensitive SERS-based sandwich immunoassay platform for simultaneous multiple detection of foodborne pathogens...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Food Science

Background:

• Accurate detection of foodborne pathogens like Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is crucial for public health.
• Existing methods may face challenges with sensitivity, specificity, or simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and interference-free platform for simultaneous detection of E. coli and S. aureus in food.
• To utilize surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology combined with magnetic beads for enhanced pathogen sensing.

Main Methods:

• Designed a sandwich immunoassay using SERS probes functionalized with triple bonds (C≡C and C≡N) and magnetic beads.
• Employed magnetic separation for pathogen enrichment and SERS for sensitive detection, achieving distinct spectral signals at 2105 and 2227 cm-1.
• Validated the platform using food samples like bottled water and milk.

Main Results:

• Achieved interference-free simultaneous detection of E. coli and S. aureus.
• Demonstrated low limits of detection (LOD) of 10 cfu/mL for E. coli and 25 cfu/mL for S. aureus.
• Successfully applied the platform to detect pathogens in real food matrices (bottled water, milk).

Conclusions:

• The developed SERS-based sandwich immunoassay is a sensitive and selective method for simultaneous pathogen detection.
• This technology holds significant potential for improving food safety monitoring and diagnostics.
• The integration of SERS probes and magnetic beads offers a robust approach for complex sample analysis.