This presentation describes the synthesis and characterization of biofunctionalized metal-polymer nanocomposites for applications in sample preparation and label-free detection of pathogens in complex matrices such as food. The nanocomposites are synthesized from aniline monomer polymerized around iron oxide nanoparticles. Electronic diffraction shows the material to be crystalline with diameter of 50-200 nm. Presence of the conducting polymer is demonstrated using FTIR spectroscopy. Room temperature magnetic hysteresis measurements using a SQUID magnetometer show that the saturation magnetization is reduced with increasing polymer concentration. Conductivity increases with increasing polymer concentration. The antibody-functionalized nanocomposites are used to extract E. coli O157:H7 cells from complex matrices by applying a magnetic field.  The extracted targets are added to a handheld biosensor for label-free detection. Performance of the biosensor includes detection of 30 cfu/ml in 40 min from sample preparation to detection. The biofunctionalized metal-polymer biosensor system can be expanded for a variety of other applications.

Biofunctionalized metal-polymer nanocomposites for sample preparation and label-free detection of pathogens

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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