Rapid point‐of‐need detection of bacteria and their toxins in food using gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Biosensors need to meet the rising food industry demand for sensitive, selective, safe, and fast food safety quality control. Disposable colorimetric sensors based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and localized surface plasmon resonance are low-cost and easy-to-perform devices intended for rapid point-of-need measurements. Recent studies demonstrate various facile and versatile AuNPs-based analytical platforms for the detection of bacteria and their toxins in milk, meat, and other foods. In this review, we introduce the general characteristics and mechanisms of AuNPs calorimetric biosensors, and highlight optimizations needed to strengthen and improve the quality of devices for their application in food matrices.

Naked-eye detection of Staphylococcus aureus in powdered milk and infant formula using gold nanoparticles

“…1b). The aptamer adsorption on AuNPs may protect nanoparticles from salt-induced aggregation (Marin et al, 2021). The working concentration of Apt1 was optimized to control the stability of AuNPs by increasing the Apt1/AuNPs molar ratio (Fig.…”

“…Among plasmonic biosensors, those using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are particularly promising, because they can meet the international guidelines for diagnostics known as REASSURED (Real-time connectivity; Ease of specimen collection; Affordability; Sensitivity; Specificity; Userfriendliness; Rapid & robust operation; Equipment-free; and Deliverability) (Land et al, 2019). AuNPs can be easily functionalized with biological molecules that ensure recognition (antibody, DNA), and allow a naked-eye detection of intact bacterial cells due to the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) phenomenon (Marin et al, 2021). LSPR depends on the AuNPs refractive index that reflects nanoparticles size, morphology and inter-particle distance, as review recently (Marin et al, 2021).…”

“…AuNPs can be easily functionalized with biological molecules that ensure recognition (antibody, DNA), and allow a naked-eye detection of intact bacterial cells due to the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) phenomenon (Marin et al, 2021). LSPR depends on the AuNPs refractive index that reflects nanoparticles size, morphology and inter-particle distance, as review recently (Marin et al, 2021). These parameters may be altered upon AuNPs aggregation or upon particles binding to bacterial cells, which induce a color change of the particle solution: the more the distance between AuNPs is reduced upon aggregation, the intensity of the change in color from red to purple is greater.…”

“…Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA) that both recognize and bind to specific targets similarly as antibodies and adsorb on AuNPs (Zhang and Liu, 2021). Milk products are among the most challenging food matrices for colorimetric tests because they contain components such as butterfat globules, carbohydrates, proteins, and various minerals (Quigley et al, 2013), that interact strongly with AuNPs and interfere with the assay result (Marin et al, 2021). By performing a single additional step prior to analysis to eliminate the matrix hindrance issue, a good LSPR sensor performance was demonstrated in both products.…”

Advances in Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Foodborne Pathogen Detection

“…Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been increasingly used in the design of electrochemical biosensors for their biocompatibility, conductivity, catalytic activity, stability and high surface-to-volume ratio [125]. Deposition of AuNPs onto gold electrodes enables a significant increase in the electrode surface area for target recognition and, consequently, its analytical performance [126,127].…”