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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376470
Research Project: Advanced Development of Innovative Technologies and Systematic Approaches to Foodborne Hazard Detection and Characterization for Improving Food Safety

Location: Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens

Title: Gold nanostars for the detection of foodborne pathogens via surface-enhanced raman scattering combined with microfluidics

Author
item RODRIQUEZ-LORENZO, L - Purdue University
item GARRIDO-MAESTU, A - Purdue University
item BHUNIA, J - Purdue University
item ESPINA, B - Purdue University
item PRADO, M - Purdue University
item DIÉGUEZ, L - Purdue University
item ABALDECELA, S - Purdue University

Submitted to: ACS Nano
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2019
Publication Date: 9/20/2019
Citation: Rodriquez-Lorenzo, L., Garrido-Maestu, A., Bhunia, J.K., Espina, B., Prado, M., Diéguez, L., Abaldecela, S. 2019. Gold nanostars for the detection of foodborne pathogens via surface-enhanced raman scattering combined with microfluidics. ACS Nano. 2(10):6081-6086. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b01223.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b01223

Interpretive Summary: Rapid and sensitive detection methods can help food processors make an early decision regarding product safety, on-time product release, and help prevent foodborne outbreaks and human illnesses. We developed a novel flow-through surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy for the rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food in less than 2 min, starting with an enriched food sample. This testing method could be used by food processors and regulatory agencies to rapidly test food samples and prevent the release of contaminated products.

Technical Abstract: Herein, we demonstrated the potential of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy combined with microfluidics for the detection and discrimination of foodborne pathogens. SERS-tagged gold nanostars were functionalized with a monoclonal antibody specific for Listeria monocytogenes. In the presence of L. monocytogenes, a SERS signal corresponding to the SERS tag paired to the antibody was detected in real time and in continuous flow, enabling the discrimination of L. monocytogenes and Listeria innocua in just 100s. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that SERS tags have been used for the in-flow detection of living organisms.