Castillo Alberto-Rodríguez, Jurado-Sánchez Beatriz, Pumera Martin, Escarpa Alberto
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, E-28802, Spain.
Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology (CEITEC-BUT), Brno, 61200, Czech Republic.
Small. 2024 Dec;20(52):e2404248. doi: 10.1002/smll.202404248. Epub 2024 Oct 24.
Timely disruptive tools for the detection of pathogens in foods are needed to face global health and economic challenges. Herein, the utilization of quantum biomaterials-enhanced microrobots (QBEMRs) as autonomous mobile sensors designed for the precise detection of endotoxins originating from Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) as an indicator species for food-borne contamination globally is presented. A fluorescent molecule-labeled affinity peptide functions as a specific probe, is quenched upon binding to the surface of QBEMRs. Owing to its selective affinity for endotoxin, in the presence of S. enterica the fluorescence is restored and easy to observe and quantifies optical color change to indicate the presence of Salmonella. The devised approach is designed to achieve highly sensitive detection of the S. enterica serovar Typhimurium endotoxin with exquisite selectivity through the utilization of QBEMRs. Notably, no fluorescence signal is observed in the presence of endotoxins bearing similar structural characteristics, highlighting the selectivity of the approach during food sample analysis. Technically, the strategy is implemented in microplate readers to extend microrobots-based approaches to the routine laboratory. This new platform can provide fast and anticipated results in food safety.
面对全球健康和经济挑战,需要及时的破坏性工具来检测食品中的病原体。本文介绍了利用量子生物材料增强微机器人(QBEMRs)作为自主移动传感器,用于精确检测源自肠炎沙门氏菌(S. enterica)的内毒素,该菌是全球食源性污染的指示物种。荧光分子标记的亲和肽作为特异性探针,在与QBEMRs表面结合时被淬灭。由于其对内毒素的选择性亲和力,在存在肠炎沙门氏菌的情况下,荧光恢复,并且易于观察和量化光学颜色变化以指示沙门氏菌的存在。所设计的方法旨在通过利用QBEMRs实现对鼠伤寒沙门氏菌血清型内毒素的高灵敏度检测,并具有出色的选择性。值得注意的是,在存在结构特征相似的内毒素时未观察到荧光信号,突出了该方法在食品样品分析过程中的选择性。从技术上讲,该策略在微孔板读数器中实施,以将基于微机器人的方法扩展到常规实验室。这个新平台可以在食品安全方面提供快速和预期的结果。