title: Detection of bacteria by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: The detection and identification of dilute bacterial samples by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has been explored by mixing aqueous suspensions of bacteria with a suspension of nanocolloidal silver particles. An estimate of the detection limit of E. coli was obtained by varying the concentration of bacteria. By correcting the Raman spectra for the broad librational OH band of water, reproducible spectra were obtained for E. coli concentrations as low as approximately 10(3) cfu/mL. To aid in the assignment of Raman bands, spectra for E. coli in D(2)O are also reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Box 351700, Seattle, WA 98195-1700, USA. atanu16@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Atanu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mujacic
authors.forename: E James
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D012834:Silver