An on-site bacterial detection strategy based on broad-spectrum antibacterial ε-polylysine functionalized magnetic nanoparticles combined with a portable fluorometer

Abstract

AbstractA sensitive on-site bacterial detection strategy is presented that integrates the\xa0broad-spectrum capturing feature of ε-polylysine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles with an in-house built portable fluorometer. Based on the electrostatic interaction, the functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (ε-PL-MNPs) were prepared for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial separation and subsequent viable release. ε-PL-MNPs show a broad reactivity towards bacteria with the high capture efficiency from real-world sample media. They also enable controlled viable bacterial release with pH adjustment. Detection of bacteria is based on a combination of broad-spectrum capture with colorimetric and fluorimetric immunoassays. A portable fluorometer is built to enhance the applicability for sensitive on-site detection. A limit of detection of 98\xa0CFU·mL−1 is achieved that is comparable to that of a known spectrofluorometric method for E. coli DH5α.\n Graphical abstractSchematic presentation of bacterial capture using cationic polymer functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and general fluorometric immunoassay with portable fluorometer. The limit of detection is 98\xa0CFU·mL−1 for E. coli DH5α.