Mechanisms of biofunctionalization of photocorrosion-based semiconductor biosensors for quasi-continuous**monitoring of pathogens in water environments

热水管道和用于空调的工业冷却塔处理的水受到细菌污染，导致包括加拿大在内的不同国家频繁爆发疾病。为了解决传统的水中病原体检测方法的不足，例如需要运送到实验室，培养时间长，以及昂贵的聚合酶链反应，人们研究了许多生物传感平台，但迄今为止还没有一个令人满意的解决方案。我们一直在开发一种新型的量子半导体光子生物传感（QSPB）器件，该器件采用标准的gaas基半导体晶圆，例如用于制造无处不在的发光二极管器件的晶圆。这种方法带来了自动化、远程和具有成本吸引力的解决方案的潜力。结合趋化效应和细菌的机械浓度，我们现有的QSPB生物芯片对水中嗜肺军团菌的检出限（LOD）估计为1 CFU/mL。这一结果将对致病性嗜肺乳杆菌提供足够的保护，然而，对高效趋化和机械浓缩步骤的要求是具有挑战性的。或者，获得如此低的LOD的要求只能通过更灵敏的QSPB器件的可用性来满足。该提案解决了迫切需要进行生物功能化科学技术的系统研究，特别是在解决创新的QSPB技术时，但这可能导致以具有吸引力的成本进行超灵敏的细菌检测。为了实现这一目标，我们与两家加拿大公司合作，一家专门实施全国范围内监测水中嗜肺乳杆菌的计划，另一家专门开发鸡抗体作为研究和诊断工具

Bacterial contamination of hot water plumbing and water processed in industrial cooling towers designed for air conditioning has led to frequent disease outbreaks in different countries, including Canada. To address the deficiencies of conventional methods of detecting pathogens in water, such as requirement to transport to a laboratory, long time-to-results (for culture), and expensive polymerase chain reaction, numerous biosensing platforms have been investigated, but without a satisfactory solution as of yet. We have been developing a novel class of quantum semiconductor photonic biosensing (QSPB) devices that employ standard GaAs-based semiconductor wafers, such as those used in the fabrication of ubiquitous light-emitting diode devices. This approach brings the potential of an automated, remote, and cost-attractive solution. The limit of detection (LOD) of Legionella pneumophila in water with our current QSPB biochips, combined with the chemotaxis effect and mechanical concentration of bacteria, has been estimated at 1 CFU/mL. This result would offer an adequate level of protection against pathogenic L. pneumophila, however, the requirement for highly efficient chemotaxis and mechanical concentration steps is challenging. Alternatively, the requirement to obtain such a low LOD could only be met by the availability of more sensitive QSPB devices. This proposal addresses the urgent need to undertake a systematic study of biofunctionalization science and technology that lags behind, especially when addressing the innovative QSPB technology, but which could lead to ultrasensitive detection of bacteria at an attractive cost. To achieve this goal, we collaborate with two Canadian companies, one specializing in implementing a nationwide program of monitoring L. pneumophila in water and the other in developing chicken antibodies as research and diagnostic tools.**