I-Corps: Nanosensors for rapid detection of food pathogens

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是改善食品安全，减少食源性病原体造成的事故。该项目将：（i）通过为食品设施和消费者提供有效的诊断工具，帮助确保美国食品供应安全，（ii）推进便携式食品监测仪的商业化，（iii）及时保护消费者免受微生物危害，消除不必要的产品召回。该传感器将提供一种新的诊断工具，使用户能够控制他们所消费的食品的安全性，从而直接造福社会。该I-Corps项目将进一步开发通过导电聚酰胺酸（PAA）和金属纳米颗粒之间的协同作用发挥作用的生物传感器技术。 纳米尺寸的纳米颗粒具有高的电子亲和力，并且可以从周围的PAA基质中剥离电子。该技术旨在检测“臭名昭著的五种”病原体，即沙门氏菌、大肠杆菌。大肠杆菌、诺如病毒、表皮葡萄球菌和李斯特菌（Sensal）均在5分钟内以5个菌落形成单位/mL或更少的量被识别。生物传感器装置类似于葡萄糖条。当含有病原体的样品暴露于测试条时，浓度依赖性识别导致膜测试条上可见的颜色变化，表明大肠杆菌或其他病原体的阳性结果。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to improve food safety and reduce the incidents caused by food-borne pathogens. This project will: (i) help ensure that the U.S. food supply is safe by providing food facilities and consumers with effective diagnostics tools, (ii) advance the commercialization of a portable food monitor, and (iii) provide timely protection against consumer microbial hazards and eliminate unnecessary product recalls. This sensor will directly benefit society by providing a new diagnostic tool that may empower users to take control of the safety of the food they consume.This I-Corps project will further develop a biosensor technology that functions via a synergy between conducting poly (amic) acid (PAA) and metal nanoparticles. Nano-sized nanoparticles have a high electron affinity and can strip off electrons from the surrounding PAA matrix. The technology is designed to detect the 'notorious five' pathogens namely, Salmonella, E. coli, Norovirus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria (Sensal) all within 5 minutes at 5 colonies forming unit/mL or less. Unlike enzymes, DNA or lipids, the recognition ligands are more robust and specific for the pathogen. The biosensor device is similar to a glucose strip. When samples containing the pathogens are exposed to the strip, concentration-dependent recognition results in visible color change on the membrane strips indicating positive results for E.coli or other pathogens.