A microfluidic colorimetric biosensor for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using gold nanoparticle aggregation and smart phone imaging.

We intended to develop a novel biosensor using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for indicating different concentrations of E. coli O157:H7 and smart phone imaging APP for monitoring color change of the AuNPs. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified with the capture antibodies and the polystyrene microspheres (PSs) modified with the detection antibodies and the catalases were simultaneously used to react with the target bacteria in the first mixing channel of the microfluidic chip, and hydrogen peroxide was injected and catalyzed by the catalases on the MNP-bacteria-PS complexes. After the mixture of the AuNPs and the crosslinking agents were injected to react with the catalysate in the second mixing channel and incubated in the detection chamber, the aggregation of the AuNPs was triggered through the crosslinking agents, resulting in the color of the AuNPs changing from blue to red. Finally, the color was measured using the smart phone imaging APP to determine the amount of the bacteria. This biosensor exhibited a good specificity and sensitivity for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in chicken samples with a lower detection limit of 50 CFU/mL.