Highly sensitive detection of Campylobacter spp. In chicken meat using a silica nanoparticle enhanced dot blot DNA biosensor

Paper-based DNA biosensors are powerful tools in point-of-care diagnostics since they affordable, portable, user-friendly, rapid and robust. However, their sensitivity is not always as high required to enable quantification. To improve the response of standard dot blots, we have applied a new enhancement strategy that increases assays based on use biotinylated silica-nanoparticles (biotin-Si-NPs). After immobilization genomic Campylobacter onto paper membrane, addition biotinylated-DNA detection probe, hybridization was evidenced using streptavidin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (HRP) presence luminol H2O2. Replacement single biotin by biotin-Si-NPs boosted average 30 fold chemiluminescent read-out biosensor. Characterization with immobilized done scanning electron microscope. A limit 3 pg/μL DNA, similar available qPCR kits, achieved, but it cheaper, easier avoids inhibition polymerase molecules from food matrices. We demonstrated blot coupled successfully detected naturally contaminated chicken meat, without needing PCR step. Hence, such an enhanced paves path development portable multiplex platform for screening carcasses Campylobacter.