In-situ Detection of Cryptosporidium Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

维克斯兰饮用水污染是水处理行业及其服务的公众非常关注的问题。目前，检测隐孢子虫和其他微生物制剂(包括恐怖主义生物制剂)的方法不足以继续使用。该项目旨在开发一种利用功能化的金纳米颗粒和表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)测量来检测和定量饮用水中的隐孢子虫的技术。如果成功，这将是一个重大的发展，因为需要一种更好的方法来快速检测饮用水中的隐孢子虫。调查人员将与弗吉尼亚州和北卡罗来纳州的公用事业公司合作，在实际的自来水厂环境中测试该方法。

0606995VikeslandContamination of drinking water is of significant concern to the water treatment industry and to the public it serves. Currently, methods for detecting the presence of Cryptosporidium and other microbial agents (including biological agents of terrorism) are inadequate for continual use. This project seeks to develop a technique to detect and quantify Cryptosporidium in drinking water using functionalized gold nanoparticles and measurement with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). If successful, this would be a significant development because a better method for rapid detection of Cryptosporidium in drinking water is needed. The investigator will work with utilities in Virginia and North Carolina to test the method in actual water plant environments.