Bioconjugated magnetic nanoparticles for the detection of bacteria.

Blood culture is traditionally a time-consuming method and has not changed significantly in several decades. Using nanotechnology, such as the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), the blood culture process may be streamlined. An important advantage of using MNPs to capture bacteria is the simple separation of bacteria from biological samples using magnets.

Single step, rapid identification of pathogenic microorganisms in a culture bottle.

Efforts to treat bloodstream infections, which have a relatively high mortality rate, are delayed by the lengthy multi-step process required to identify the causative bacteria. Due to this delay, broad spectrum antibiotics are prescribed on a presumptive basis, leading to the rise of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Here, as proof of principle, we describe a colourimetric sensor that rapidly identifies opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in a single step in TSB media.

Layer by layer assembly of biotinylated protein networks for signal amplification.

Described herein is a unique and inexpensive method that outperforms commercial methods that amplify the streptavidin-biotin recognition event. Amplification induced by streptavidin and biotinylated protein causes the formation of a large detectable polymer. This approach enjoys a 100-fold decrease in detection limit in comparison with the commercial methods.

Strong enantioselective self-recognition of a small chiral molecule.

In the present report, we have crystallized a single enantiomer and the racemate of N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl (DNB) leucine. In both cases, the X-ray structures show clear evidence of homochiral dimerization in the solid state. Moreover, only homochiral dimers were observed in the unit cell of the racemate, a result of solid-state enantioselective complexation.