Immunoassay for foodborne pathogenic bacteria using magnetic composites Ab@Fe3O4, signal composites Ap@PtNp, and thermometer readings

A point-of-care (POC) immunoassay was established for the sensitive and rapid detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7, using magnetic Fe3O4 organic-inorganic composites (Ab@Fe3O4) for immunomagnetic separation, nanozyme platinum nanoparticle (PtNp) organic-inorganic composites (Ap@PtNp) for signal amplification, and thermometer readings. Antibodies and Fe3O4 were incubated in Cu2+ phosphate buffer to synthesize the magnetic composite Ab@Fe3O4 with antibodies, to specifically capture E. coli O157:H7. Antimicrobial peptides and PtNp were incubated in Cu2+ phosphate buffer to synthesize the signal composites Ap@PtNp with antimicrobial peptides (magainin I), recognizing and labeling E. coli O157:H7. In the presence of E. coli O157:H7, magnetic microcomposites targeted bacteria and signal microcomposites to form the sandwich structure: Ab@Fe3O4-bacteria-Ap@PtNp for magnetic separation. Ap@PtNp of signal composites catalyzed H2O2 to generate thermo-signals (temperature rise), which were determined by a thermometer. This point-of-care bioassay detected E. coli O157:H7 in the linear range of 10(1)-10(7) CFU mL(-1) and with a detection limit of 14 CFU mL(-1).