Martins V.C.B., Fonseca L.P., Ferreira H.A., Graham D.L., Freitas P.P., Cabral J.M.S.
Instituto Superior Técnico, PT
Keywords: biochips, magnetoresistive, microorganisms, pathogenesis, water quality
Magnetoresistive biochips have been integrated with success in a microtechnology engineered set-up for the development of a portable analytical device, characterized by low-cost with high sensitivity and selectivity of immunodetection and biomolecular methods [1, 2]. The present work shows the progresses and the applicability of magnetoresistive biochips to detect and quantify pathogenic microorganisms for water biological quality management almost in real-time. Two different strategies of biomolecular recognition events, involving antibodies and DNA oligonucleotide sequences as recognition agents, have been used with success in the identification and quantification of Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Antibodies are very specific, recognizing a particular epitope of the antigene at the cell surface, which is ideal for single strain detection. Alternatively, hybridization between complementary single stranded oligonucleotides can be used to recognize homologous sequences present in related species. References [1] Freitas, P.P. et al, Ferreira, H., Graham D.L., Clarke L., Amaral M., Martins V., Fonseca L., Cabral J.S. (2003) “Magnetoresistive biochips” Europhysics News, 34, 224. [2] P. P. Freitas, H. A. Ferreira, D. L. Graham, L. A. Clarke, M. D. Amaral, V. Martins, L. Fonseca, J. S. Cabral, “Magnetoresistive DNA chips”, in Magnetoelectronics (Mark Johnson, ed.), Elsevier Science (in press)
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2005 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: May 8, 2005
Pages: 493 - 496
Industry sectors: Medical & Biotech | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topics: Biomaterials, Chemical, Physical & Bio-Sensors
ISBN: 0-9767985-0-6