International Journal of ElectrochemistryVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 421692, 5 pagesdoi:10.1155/2012/421692

Research Article

Calibration of Surface Plasmon Resonance Imager for Biochemical Detection

T. Ktari, H. Baccar, M. B. Mejri, and A. Abdelghani

Nanotechnology Laboratory, INSAT, Carthage University, Centre Urbain Nord, 1080 Charguia Cedex, Tunisia

Received 13 July 2011; Revised 28 August 2011; Accepted 4 September 2011

Academic Editor: Ulku Anik

Copyright © 2012 T. Ktari et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

We present a new Surface Plasmon Resonance imager (SPRi) based on immobilized T4-phage for bacteria detection. First, we present the sensitivity of the SPR imager towards refractive index variation for biosensor application. The SPR imager can be calibrated versus different percentage of triethylene glycol mixture in ultrapure water. The system can be used as a refractometer with sensitivity below in the range of 1.33300–1.34360. Second, bacteriophage (T4-phage) can be physisorbed on gold microarray spots for bacteria detection. The kinetic physisorption of different concentrations of T4-phages can be observed in real time. Finally, two types of bacteria such as E. coli (gram negative) and Lactobacillus (gram positive) were used for positive and negative tests. The results show a selectivity of T4-phage toward E. coli with a detection limit below 10⁴ CFU/mL and with good reproducibility.

1. Introduction

Nowadays, sensors become an increasingly exploited technology for detection and analysis of various chemical and biological compounds in important areas such as environmental monitoring, clinical applications, security, and food safety. Among them, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for biological applications has attracted significant interest in recent years. Studies have demonstrated the detection of biologically relevant analytes, including among others prostate-specific antigen [1–4], C-reactive protein [5], human ferritin [6], a number of DNA target sequences [7, 8], and different types of bacteria [9–11]. SPR is an electromagnetic wave propagating along a metal/dielectric interface. This resonant phenomenon depends on the wavelength of the excitation light, the refractive index of the metallic layer, and the dielectric interface located close to the metallic layer [11–13]. A variation of the refractive index of the dielectric interface induces a variation of the resonance condition. This allows the development of optical sensors designed to detect/differentiate between samples exhibiting different refractive index, or monitor biomolecule attachment onto the transducer surface [14]. In the case of SPR imaging (SPRi), the whole chip is literally visualized using a CCD video camera [15]. Simultaneously, the equipment monitors the changes in light reflectivity over the whole surface at a fixed resonance angle and in real time. The local changes at the surface of the chip recorded as changes of refractive index provide detailed information on any interaction of kinetic process taking place. This makes possible multiplexed label-free detection using sensors in an array format, greatly improving experimental throughput and robustness compared to classical SPR, and favoring its use in many biological applications [16, 17].

In this work, we present a new Surface Plasmon Resonance imager (SPRi) based on immobilized T4-phage on gold microarrays spots for bacteria detection. First, we study the sensitivity of the SPR imaging system towards refractive index variation. With this purpose, the SPR imager has been first calibrated versus different percentages of triethylene glycol diluted in ultrapure water. Next, we use the SPR imager for bacteria detection with T4-phage as bioreceptor. Bacteriophage (T4-phage) can be physisorbed on gold microarrays spots. The kinetic deposition of different concentrations of T4-phages has been monitored in real time with the SPRi imager. Finally, two types of bacteria, E. coli (gram negative) and Lactobacillus (gram positive), have been assayed as positive and negative controls, respectively, using the T4-phage-modified SPRi chips [11, 18]. A detection limit below 10⁴ CFU/mL can be obtained.

2. Experimental

2.1. Reagents and Apparatus

The used bacteria were E. coli K12 (gram negative) and Lactobacillus fermentum (gram positive) diluted in PBS (pH = 7.2) and concentration stability was assessed by monitoring the suspensions optical density (OD650) over time. The same procedure for phage storing and growing. The phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) contained 140 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.1 mM Na₂HPO₄, and 1.8 mM KH₂PO₄, adjusted at pH 7.2. All reagents were of analytical grade and ultrapure water (resistance ≥ 18.2 MΩcm⁻¹), produced using a Millipore Milli-Q system, was used throughout. The PBS and the ultrapure water used in this work were sterilized. Bovin Serum Albumin (BSA) was used to block unspecific sites with a concentration of 0.1% in PBS buffer.

2.2. T4-Phage Immobilization and Bacteria Culture

The physisorption of T4-phage on gold surface and bacteria culture was reported in previous work [18]. For biosensor application, all measurements were performed at a room temperature of 27 degrees.

2.3. SPR Instrumentation

Work was carried using the SPR imager II (from GWC Technologies, USA), which is designed for analysis of molecular interactions in an array format with 16 spots. The entire microarray was exposed to the same analyte using the 1 mL flow cell. After the self-assembly, the 16-spot microarray is divided in two independent compartments by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gasket in the microfluidic chamber. The CCD camera simultaneously captures all data for all probes on the microarray (Figure 1). The chips were washed with ethanol and inserted into the SPRi and all measurements were performed with sterile PBS buffer.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 1: (a) SPRi signal over time for different percentages of triethylene glycol in ultrapure water at fixed temperature (27 degrees). (b) Calibration curve of SPRi signal versus different percentage of triethylene glycol in ultrapure water. (c) SPRi signal versus temperature variation.

2.4. Refractive Index and Temperature Effects

The SPRi was initially calibrated versus different percentages of triethylene glycol dissolved in ultrapure water. All solutions were stirred for ten minutes and refractive index was measured with a digital Abbe refractometer in parallel. In order to study the effect of temperature in the measurement, the SPRi curves were obtained for different temperature values in the range of 24 to 40 degrees.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. SPR Imager Calibration

The chip was inserted into the SPRi placed under a flux of ultrapure water, then under a flux of ultrapure water mixed with different percentages of triethylene glycol. Figure 1(a) shows a calibration curve which presents variation in pixels over time for different percentages of triethylene glycol in ultrapure water at fixed temperature (27 degrees). The variation in signal registered by the CCD camera is due to the increase of the refractive index of the external medium. A commercial digital refractometer was used to determine the index values of each percentage (Table 1). A variation of in refractive index can be easily detected, which induces a 20-pixel variation. Figure 1(b) shows the calibration curve of SPR signal variation for different percentages of triethylene glycol in ultrapure water. As it can be seen, the SPR signal increases for increasing the refractive index of the external medium. Signal saturation was reached at 10% of triethylene glycol in ultrapure water. The noise signal was equal to 1 pixel and the SPRi system can detect a refractive index variation below which is very interesting for biochemical detection. Figure 1(c) shows the CCD camera signal variation versus temperature effect. The slope shows a shift of 1.77 pixel/degrees which is due to refractive index medium changes. For biosensors application, the temperature will be fixed at 27 degrees.

Table 1: SPRi signal and refractive index of the external medium obtained with different percentage of triethylene glycol per 1 mL of ultrapure water.

% Triethylene glycol in ultrapure water
0
0.5
1
2.5
5
7.5
10

SPR signal (pixels)
0
18.86
40.69
78.35
124
164.63
164.63

Refractive Index
1.33300
1.33305
1.33410
1.33620
1.33945
1.34180
1.34360

3.2. T4-Phage Deposition

Figure 2(a) shows the pixels variation over time for T4-phage physisorption on the spots. The adsorption of phages induces a signal variation due to thin layer deposition on gold spots. Measurements were carried out for different phage concentration in order to optimize surface coverage (Figure 2(b)). As illustrated in Figure 2(b), signal increases over time and with phage concentration which is due to higher surface covering efficiency.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: (a) SPRi signal over time for different T4-phage concentration physisorbed on the 16 gold spots. (b) Calibration curve of SPRi signal versus different concentration of T4-phages physisorbed on the 16 gold spots.

Physisorption of T4-phages on gold surface was additionally confirmed by obtaining Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images in tapping modes. Figure 3 shows the AFM images of the gold chips after physisorption of T4-phages. As it can be observed, the structure of gold surface can be distinguished clearly from phages. In this respect, phages were organized in aggregate formats over the whole surface, a behaviour that has been previously observed [19].

Figure 3: AFM images of T4-phage deposited on gold surface.

3.3. Detection and Selectivity

Figure 4(a) shows the CCD camera signal variation over time for immobilized T4-phage before and after injection of 10⁴ CFU/mL E. coli (gram negative) with BSA as blocking layer. The increase in the signal is due to the specific recognition of bacteria by the T4-phage. The same behaviour was observed in the other eight gold spots of the channel, all of them modified with T4-phage and exposed to E. coli. A small perturbation was observed after 30 minutes which can be due to the lysis of bacteria. The lysis of bacteria can induce a small variation in refractive index which cannot be observed clearly with the SPR technique [20]. Different concentrations of E. coli and Lactobacillus ranging from 10⁴ CFU/mL to 10⁷ CFU/mL were finally tested using T4-phage immobilized on gold arrays. Figure 4(b) summarizes the SPR signals registered versus E. coli concentrations. The increase of E. coli concentration leads to an increase of SPR signal, due to the successful recognition of bacteria by the virus. A detection limit of 10⁴ CFU/mL E. coli concentrations was obtained with T4-phages with a good reproducibility. According to the noise of 1 pixel, detection limit below 10⁴ CFU/mL can be detected for E. coli better than those obtained with others electrochemical, SPR, and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) techniques [18, 21–23]. A negative control was performed by injecting Lactobacillus bacteria, as gram-positive bacteria that is not recognized by T4-phage. A very low signal has been obtained compared to the specific signal (Figure 4(b)).

(a)

(b)

Figure 4: (a) SPRi signal over time after bacteria injection (10⁴ CFU/mL of E. coli). (b) Calibration curve of SPRi signal versus E. coli concentrations (squares) and versus Lactobacillus bacteria (circle).

4. Conclusion

In this work, we studied the sensitivity of an SPRi to refractive index and temperature variation. A new SPR imager biosensor based on T4-phage immobilized on gold surfaces by physisorption technique was developed. The SPRi biosensor was used for E. coli detection using Lactobacillus bacteria as a negative control. The results show selectivity of the T4-phages modified surface and a good sensor reproducibility. A detection limit below 10⁴ CFU/mL can be detected for E. coli better than those obtained with other techniques. For future work, detection limit will be improved and other phages will be used.

Acknowledgments

Professor A. Abdelghani thanks the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) for the material donation. The authors thank Biophage Pharma (Canada) for providing them T4-phage, Dr. Mohamed Zourob (Canada), Professor A. Simonian (USA), Dr. Eva Baldrich (CNM Barcelona, Spain), and F. J. Del Campo (CNM Barcelona, Spain) for their collaboration.

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