Portable device for detection of microorganisms

• US 20060257968A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaoyu, Van Duyne, Richard, Young, Mathew, Lyandres, Olga
• Application Number:
  US11/401,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20060257968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/34
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting microorganisms (e.g., anthrax). In particular, the present invention provides portable, surface-enhanced Raman biosensors, and associated substrates, and methods of using the same, for use in rapidly detecting and identifying microorganisms (e.g., anthrax).

Claims

1. A portable device comprising a plurality of nanobiosensors, said nanobiosensors configured for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection of microorganisms.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanobiosensors comprise nanosphere substrates.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said nanosphere substrates are coated with a noble metal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said noble metal coated nanosphere substrates are further coated with alumina.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said noble metal comprises silver.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanobiosensors are configured for quantitative detection of said microorganisms.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said level of quantitative detection is 2.0×

10³ spores or less of said microorganism.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is a pathogen.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said pathogen is capable of forming spores.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said spore forming pathogen is Bacillus anthracis.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said microorganism is Bacillus anthracis.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein said nanosphere substrates are 500-700 nm in size.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said nanosphere substrates are optimized for 750 nm laser excitation.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a laser excitation power of 50 mW or less.

15. A method for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms comprising:

a) providing a sample suspected of containing a microorganism,

b) contacting said sample with a portable device comprising a plurality of nanobiosensors configured for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and

c) detecting the presence or absence of said microorganism in said sample by detecting a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy signal from said portable device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said microorganism is a pathogenic bacteria.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said pathogenic bacteria is capable of forming spores.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said pathogenic bacteria capable of forming spores is from a group consisting of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said portable device is a hand held device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said nanobiosensors comprise nanosphere substrates.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said nanosphere substrates are coated with a noble metal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said noble metal is silver.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said noble metal coated biosensors are further coated with alumina.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein said detection is less than 10⁴ spores of said microorganism.