Immunosensor for Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Using Imaging Ellipsometry

Imaging ellipsometry (IE) for detection of binding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) to an immunosensor is reported. A protein G layer, chemically bound to a self-assembled layer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA), was adopted for immobilization of monoclonal antibody against E. coli O157:H7 (Mab). The immobilization of antibody was investigated using surface plasmon resonance. To fabricate antibody spots on a gold surface, protein G solution was spotted onto the gold surface modified with an 11-MUA layer, followed by immobilizing Mab on the protein G spot. Ellipsometric images of the protein G spot, the Mab spot, and Mab spots with binding of E. coli O157:H7 in various concentrations were acquired using the IE system. The change of mean optical intensity of the Mab spots in the ellipsometric images indicated that the lowest detection limit was $10^3$CFU/ml for E. coli O157:H7. Thus, IE can be applied to an immunosensor for detection of E. coli O157:H7 as a detection method with the advantages of allowing label-free detection, high sensitivity, and operational simplicity.