Nanotechnology and nanomaterials

Fast detection of Brucella melitensis using a preencrishment and QCM aptasensor
Arica M.Y.1, Bayramoglu G.1, 2
1 Biochemical Processing and Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Gazi University, Ankara 06500, Turkey
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara 06500, Turkey 
E-mail: yakuparica@gmail.com

Brucellosis, also known as “undulant fever”, or “Mediterranean fever” is a zoonosis and the infection is transmitted by contact with infected animals or milk or milk products. Brucella species, which have more than one serotype, grow logarithmically in the food, and for this reason, studies on the development of portable sensors that recognize pathogenic microorganisms in situ have gained importance in the food industry. General detection methods of Brucella melitensis include PCR analysis, immunologic methods, solid culturing techniques, and various microscopic studies. Milk and other food samples demonstrate an especially difficult challenge for direct detection, resulting from high biological complexity. The functional polymers coated magnetic particles (MP) were synthesized in two stages. Firstly, paramagnetic Fe3O4 (magnetic) nanoparticles were prepared then, the surface of the magnetic Fe3O4 particles was grafted using atom transfer radical polymerization method with the hydrophilic polyethyleneglycol methacrylate (PEG-MA) macromonomer [1,2]. Then, a second functional monomer was grafted with the same method (i.e., glycidyl methacrylate, GMA). The selected B. melitensis binding aptamer was immobilized by reacting with epoxy groups of GMA, and used for enrichment of target bacteria from samples. The isolate was used for real time detection of target bacterium using designed QCM-aptasorsor. The QCM-aptasensor was also used for the identification of B. melitensis in raw milk obtained from local farmer.
 
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