Nanoparticle-based reagents for pathogen detection

COLL 211

Marvin G. Warner, Jay W. Grate, Michael Feldhaus, and Cynthia Bruckner-Lea. Fundamental Science Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MS K4-12, Richland, WA 99352
In order to meet the growing demand to develop biosensors that provide a means for the rapid, sensitive, and low-cost detection of pathogens in environmental samples, we have begun to develop a library of nanoparticle-based reagents that rely on the unique properties of the nanoparticle to provide a mechanism for signal transduction. These reagents typically involve first the synthesis of a semiconductor or metallic precursor nanoparticle (e.g. CdSe/CdS or Au) followed by further functionalization to enable their attachment to biomolecules of interest (e.g. nucleic acids or proteins). These nanoparticle reagents have then been evaluated to determine their efficacy toward sensitive and rapid detection of trace amounts of biological agents (e.g. Escherichia coli O157:H7 and botulinum toxin). We present here our results in the development of a reliable synthesis, purification, and biomolecule attachment strategy of the nanoparticle components as well as our initial results in the use of these reagents for biodetection.