CARBON NANOTUBE ATTACHED WITH ssDNA AS
NANOSENSOR FOR DETECTION OF
SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR TYPHIMURIUM
Food poisoning caused by Salmonella spp. is becoming common affecting millions of people. Detection of these pathogens in food and poultry products will improve human health and our environment. Use of specific DNA molecules in diagnosis is a new field and it provides fast, cost-effective, convenient and reliable detection options. Single stranded DNA (ssDNA) immobilized to electrochemical, piezoelectric or other transducers can be hybridized with its complementary DNA resulting in a signal with high specificity and sensitivity. Carbon nanotubes due to their excellent chemical reactivity, conductance, and surface properties were chosen for the development of an electrochemical biosensor for this project. Our goal is to isolate genomic DNA from Salmonella and it into ssDNA and used to attach with carbon nanotubes. Attachment of the ssDNA is confirmed by electrochemical analysis and AFM studies. These studies will lead to development of a sensitive and specific nanobiosensor for the detection of Salmonella with the possibility of developing methods for detecting other environmental pathogens.