Vibrio parahemolyticus ( V. parahemolyticus) is an important food-borne pathogen that causes food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis in humans. Herein, a novel colorimetric immunoassay was presented for rapid detection of V. parahemolyticus using gold nanoparticles (18.1 nm diameter) as chromogenic substrate, whose combination of a magnetic bead-based sandwich immunoassay and an optical sensing system via Mn2+ ions mediated aggregation of gold nanoparticles. MnO2 nanoparticles coated with polyclonal IgG antibodies (7.8 nm diameter) are used to recognize the target and can be etched to generate manganese ions by ascorbic acid. A color change ranging from red to purple to blue can be easily discerned by bare eye, corresponding to V. parahemolyticus concentration in the range between 10 and 106 cfu·mL-1. The proposed method possesses high specificity with a limit of detection of 10 cfu·mL-1 and was successfully applied to determination of V. parahemolyticus in oyster samples without pre-enrichment. In our perception, it shows promise in rapid instrumental and on-site visual detection of V. parahemolyticus.
Keywords: MnO2 nanoparticles; Vibrio parahemolyticus; colorimetric immunoassay; food safety; gold nanoparticles sensing system; magnetic beads.