Colorimetric detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using functionalized Au@Pt nanoparticles as peroxidase mimetics

The presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in food and drinking water is a chronic problem worldwide. Protecting food against bacterial contamination and rapid diagnosis of infection require simple and rapid assays for detection of bacterial pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7. Here we report a rapid and novel colorimetric method for detecting E. coli O157:H7. This colorimetric method is based on the catalytic oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine by hydrogen peroxide using 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid-functioned Au@Pt nanoparticles adsorbed on the surface of E. coli O157:H7. The assay showed excellent sensitivity both with the naked eye and based on absorbance measurements. The absorbance at 652 nm was proportional to the concentration of E. coli O157:H7 ranging from 7 to 6 x 10(6) cfu mL(-1) with a limit of detection of 7 cfu mL(-1). The total detection time was less than 40 min.