A sensitive gold-nanorods-based nanobiosensor for specific detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

Abstract

BackgroundCampylobacteriosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can be mostly undiagnosed or unreported due to fastidious Campylobacter species. The aim of this study was to develop a simple, sensitive, and quick assay for the detection of Campylobacter spp. and taking advantage of the great sensitivity of gold nanorods (GNRs) to trace changes in the local environment and interparticle distance.MethodsCharacterized GNRs were modified by specific ssDNA probes of cadF gene. First, the biosensor was evaluated using recombinant plasmid (pTG19-T/cadF) and synthetic single-stranded 95 bp gene, followed by a collection of the extracted DNAs of the stool samples. The sensing strategy was compared by culture, PCR, and real-time PCR.Results and discussionAnalysis of 283 specimens showed successful detection of Campylobacter spp. in 44 cases (16%), which was comparable to culture (7%), PCR (15%), and real-time PCR (18%). In comparison with real-time PCR, the sensitivity of the biosensor was reported 88%, while the specificity test for all assays was the same (100%). However, it was not able to detect Campylobacter in 6 positive clinical samples, as compared to real-time PCR. The limit of detection was calculated to be the same for the biosensor and real-time PCR (102 copy number/mL).ConclusionsTaking high speed and simplicity of this assay into consideration, the plasmonic nanobiosensor could pave the way in designing a new generation of diagnostic kits for detection of C. jejuni and C. coli species in clinical laboratories.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12951-019-0476-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gold Nanorods for LSPR Biosensing: Synthesis, Coating by Silica, and Bioanalytical Applications

“…Regarding the chemisorption of thiolated lactose, it was clearly shown to be incomplete since the zeta potential of the nanorods remained positive after reaction [ 145 ]. The same conclusion was drawn in the case of an iminothiolane-treated IgG [ 148 ] and a thiol-terminated DNA aptamer [ 152 ].…”

Plasmonic biosensors for food control

“…Various DNA probes are available in literature for most prevalent food pathogens. For instance, DNA probes for C. jejuni detection were designed in the hippuricase gene (hipO) (Fontanot, Iacumin, Cecchini, Comi, & Manzano, 2014), cadF gene (Shams, Bakhshi, Moghadam, & Behmanesh, 2019), PorA gene (Gnanaprakasa, Oyarzabal, Olsen, Pedrosa, & Simonian, 2011) or 16 S rRNA gen (Vizzini et al, 2020). DNA probes for Salmonella spp.…”

Surface Functionalization of Gold Nanorods Improves Nanostructure Assemblies on Amyloid Fibril Scaffolds

“…While transverse surface resonance band normally does not show any particular changes upon changes in the refractive index, the longitudinal one (LSPR) shows significant sensitivity to trace changes in the local environment. 3 Such response to changes has been exploited in designing novel plasmonic theranostic agents, as well as monitoring biomolecular interactions and molecular binding events. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of the purified samples also confirmed formation of the anisotropic nanostructures with rod morphology.…”

“…1 Such sensitivity to trace changes in the local refractive index, candidates plasmonic nanoparticles for variety of fruitful applications in nanomedicine and biosensing. 2,3 Upon modifications in synthesis conditions, shape of gold nanoparticles could be directed to form anisotropic nanoparticles of rod morphology. Gold nanorods (GNRs) with unique ability to scatter light in the near infrared region have been nominated as promising theranostic agents for different biomedical applications, such as biomedical imaging, biosensing, drug delivery, cancer therapy, regenerative medicine etc.…”