title: Carbon nanotubes based optical immunodetection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) in food.
abstract: Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are a major cause of food-borne diseases, traditionally SEs assayed immunologically with ELISA. Carbon nanotubes' (CNT) unique mechanical and electronic properties combined with a large specific surface area make them attractive for biosensing. To investigate whether CNT could improve the sensitivity of ELISA assays, we developed an optical CNT immunosensor for the detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) in food. Anti-SEB antibodies were immobilized onto a CNT surface through electrostatic adsorption and then the antibody-nanotube mixture was bound onto a polycarbonate film. SEB was then detected by a "sandwich-type" ELISA assay on the polycarbonate film. The use of CNT increased the sensitivity of the immunosensor by at least 6-fold, lowering the detection limit of SEB. The CNT immunosensor was also able to detect SEB various foods, suggesting the utility of CNT for this and other optical-based immunological detection methods.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore MD 21250, USA.
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yordan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kostov
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasooly
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005453:Fluorescence; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013202:Staphylococcal Food Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal