Fast detection of Salmonella Infantis with carbon nanotube field effect transistors

In this paper we report a fast, sensitive and label-free biosensor for the selective determination of Salmonella Infantis. It is based on a field effect transistor (FET) in which a network of single-walled carbon nantotubes (SWCNTs) acts as the conductor channel. Anti-Salmonella antibodies were adsorbed onto the SWCNTs and subsequently the SWCNTs were protected with Tween 20 to prevent the non-specific binding of other bacteria or proteins. Our FET devices were exposed to increasing concentrations of S. Infantis and were able to detect at least 100 cfu/mL in 1 h. To evaluate the selectivity of our FET devices, Streptococcus pyogenes and Shigella sonnei were tested as potential competing bacteria for Salmonella. At a concentration of 500 cfu/mL, neither Streptococcus nor Shigella interfered with the detection of Salmonella. Therefore, these devices could be used as useful label-free platforms to detect S. Infantis and, by using the suitable antibody, other bacteria or viruses. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.