Imprinting of Microorganisms for Biosensor Applications

Abstract

There is a growing need for selective recognition of microorganisms in complex samples due to the rapidly emerging importance of detecting them in various matrices. Most of the conventional methods used to identify microorganisms are time-consuming, laborious and expensive. In recent years, many efforts have been put forth to develop alternative methods for the detection of microorganisms. These methods include use of various components such as silica nanoparticles, microfluidics, liquid crystals, carbon nanotubes which could be integrated with sensor technology in order to detect microorganisms. In many of these publications antibodies were used as recognition elements by means of specific interactions between the target cell and the binding site of the antibody for the purpose of cell recognition and detection. Even though natural antibodies have high selectivity and sensitivity, they have limited stability and tend to denature in conditions outside the physiological range. Among different approaches, biomimetic materials having superior properties have been used in creating artificial systems. Molecular imprinting is a well suited technique serving the purpose to develop highly selective sensing devices. Molecularly imprinted polymers defined as artificial recognition elements are of growing interest for applications in several sectors of life science involving the investigations on detecting molecules of specific interest. These polymers have attractive properties such as high bio-recognition capability, mechanical and chemical stability, easy preparation and low cost which make them superior over natural recognition reagents. This review summarizes the recent advances in the detection and quantification of microorganisms by emphasizing the molecular imprinting technology and its applications in the development of sensor strategies.

Multifunctional Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors for Rapid Capture and Detection of Pathogens

“…These polymers have attractive properties such as high recognition capability, mechanical and chemical stability, easy preparation and low cost which make them superior over natural recognition reagents [ 107 , 109 ]. Sensing of pathogens is also possible using molecular imprinting that allows creation of specific recognition sites by polymerization of monomers in presence of a template molecule [ 110 ]. Removal of the template creates a shape memory cavity with binding properties that can serve as recognition sites for molecules with identical geometry to that of the imprint molecule [ 111 , 112 ].…”

Iron‐Catalysed Radical Polymerisation by Living Bacteria

“…A key goal has been to generate polymers in situ at, or near, biointerfaces such that the cells “select” which monomers to form materials in their immediate environments . Growing synthetic polymers in the presence of bacteria might provide not only novel ECM mimics, but also bacteria‐specific sequestrants and sensors . We report here (Figure ) initial steps in the bacteria‐mediated synthesis of wholly synthetic polymers under “bio‐benign” conditions.…”

Iron‐Catalysed Radical Polymerisation by Living Bacteria

“…[9a, 10] Growing synthetic polymers in the presence of bacteria might provide not only novel ECM mimics, [11] but also bacteria-specific sequestrants and sensors. [12] We report here ( Figure 1) initial steps in the bacteriamediated synthesis of wholly synthetic polymers under "biobenign" conditions. To date there have been an umber of examples of cellmediated polymerisations [9b, 10,13] but most have required catalysts or conditions that are toxic to biology or difficult to control.…”