Optical leaky waveguide sensor for detection of bacteria with ultrasound attractor force.
An integrated, sensitive, and rapid system was developed for the detection of bacteria. The system combined an optical metal-clad leaky waveguide (MCLW) sensor with ultrasound standing waves (USW). The performance of a MCLW sensor for the detection of bacteria has been increased (>100 fold) by using USWs to drive bacteria onto the sensor surface. By forming the USW nodes at or within the surface of the MCLW, the diffusion-limited capture rate has been replaced by fast movement. Immobilized anti-BG antibody on the MCLW sensor surface was used to capture Bacillus subtilis var. niger (BG) bacterial spores driven to the surface. This combination of sensor and attractor force combination has been tested by detecting the evanescent scattering from bacterial spores at the sensor surface. Application of ultrasound for 3 min gave a detection limit for BG bacterial spores of 1 x 10(3) spores/mL.
Zourob
Mohammed
M
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, P.O. Box 88, Sackville Street, Manchester M60 1QD, UK. m.zourob@manchester.ac.uk
Hawkes
Jeremy J
JJ
Coakley
W Terence
WT
Treves Brown
Bernard J
BJ
Fielden
Peter R
PR
McDonnell
Martin B
MB
Goddard
Nicholas J
NJ
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D013171:Spores, Bacterial