This paper from 2006 shows quantum dots at that ti
Post# of 22454
QMC Food Grade QD could be used to tell when a food, such as chicken, goes bad within it's packaging.
Simultaneous detection of Escheri7:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium using quantum dots as fluorescence labels
Liju Yang et al. Analyst. 2006 Mar.
Abstract
In this study, we explored the use of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescence labels in immunoassays for simultaneous detection of two species of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium. QDs with different sizes can be excited with a single wavelength of light, resulting in different emission peaks that can be measured simultaneously. Highly fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots with different emission wavelengths (525 nm and 705 nm) were conjugated to anti-E. coli O157 and anti-Salmonella antibodies, respectively. Target bacteria were separated from samples by using specific antibody coated magnetic beads. The bead-cell complexes reacted with QD-antibody conjugates to form bead-cell-QD complexes. Fluorescent microscopic images of QD labeled E. coli and Salmonella cells demonstrated that QD-antibody conjugates could evenly and completely attach to the surface of bacterial cells, indicating that the conjugated QD molecules still retain their effective fluorescence, while the conjugated antibody molecules remain active and are able to recognize their specific target bacteria in a complex mixture. The intensities of fluorescence emission peaks at 525 nm and 705 nm of the final complexes were measured for quantitative detection of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium simultaneously. The fluorescence intensity (FI) as a function of cell number (N) was found for Salmonella and E. coli, respectively. The regression models can be expressed as: FI = 60.6 log N- 250.9 with R(2) = 0.97 for S. Typhimurium, and FI = 77.8 log N- 245.2 with R(2) = 0.91 for E. coli O157:H7 in the range of cell numbers from 10(4) to 10(7) cfu ml(-1). The detection limit of this method was 10(4) cfu ml(-1). The detection could be completed within 2 hours. The principle of this method could be extended to detect multiple species of bacteria (3-4 species) simultaneously, depending on the availability of each type of QD-antibody conjugates with a unique emission peak and the antibody coated magnetic beads specific to each species of bacteria.
Similar articles
Rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of three foodborne pathogens using magnetic nanobead-based immunoseparation and quantum dot-based multiplex immunoassay.
Wang H, et al. J Food Prot. 2011. PMID: 22186043
Simultaneous detection of multifood-borne pathogenic bacteria based on functionalized quantum dots coupled with immunomagnetic separation in food samples.
Zhao Y, et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2009. PMID: 19154162
Quantum dot biolabeling coupled with immunomagnetic separation for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.
Su XL, et al. Anal Chem. 2004. PMID: 15307792
Rapid direct methods for enumeration of specific, active bacteria in water and biofilms.
McFeters GA, et al. Symp Ser Soc Appl Microbiol. 1999. PMID: 11543584 Review.
Focus on quantum dots as potential fluorescent probes for monitoring food toxicants and foodborne pathogens.
Vinayaka AC, et al. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010. PMID: 20401471 Review.