A rapid and facile analytical approach to detecting Salmonella Enteritidis with aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Salmonella should be absence in pharmaceutical preparations and foods according to regulations in many countries. Up to now, rapidly detecting Salmonella at 1 CFU[10 g (mL) ](1) in pharmaceutical preparation or 1 CFU[25 g (mL) ](1) in food samples is still a challenge. Herein, we present an aptamer-based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method for rapidly detecting Salmonella Enteritidis by using a handheld Raman instrument. The aptamer could specifically recognize S. Enteritidis, and 4-MBA self assembled on the surface of Au@Ag NPs was used as a Raman reporter molecule. The method was validated to be high specific with no interference from other five pathogenic bacteria. It could identify S. Enteritidis contaminant at similar to 1 CFU(10 g)(1) spiked level in a real sample (Wenxin granule, a botanical drug) after 6 h of enrichment. The detection time was much shorter than that of the methods (more than 54 similar to 96 h) in the standards of pharmaceutical preparations and foods. In addition, the method could quantitatively determinate S. Enteritidis with satisfactory results. The SERS peak intensities of 4-MBA at 1072 cm1 showed a good linear correlation (R2 = 0.9873) with the logarithms of S. Enteritidis concentrations ranging from 4.17 x102 to 1.39x107 CFUmL1. T-test result (P = 0.425) revealed that there was no significant difference between the determination results obtained by the SERS method and the plate counting method. Therefore, the study indicated that the method was practical and reliable, and it could be a promising alternative for the on-site detection of S. Enteritidis.(c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents an aptamer-based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method for rapid detection of Salmonella Enteritidis. The method utilizes a handheld Raman instrument and shows high specificity, quick detection time, and quantitative determination of Salmonella Enteritidis. It offers a promising alternative for on-site detection of Salmonella Enteritidis.