Electrospun sol-gel fibers for fluorescence-based sensing

Fluorescence based biosensors have the ability to provide reliable pathogen detection. However, the performance could be improved by enhancing the effective surface area of the biosensor. We report on a new nanofibrous fluorescencebased biosensor, whereas a sol-gel platform mesh was constructed by utilizing electrospinning techniques. Furthermore, incorporating cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and conducting pore-forming techniques resulted in a high surface area material suitable for biosensor immobilization. The biosensor was designed to detect Helicobacter hepaticus bacterium by sandwiching the pathogen between two antibodies, one labeled with Alexa Fluor 546 fluorescent dye and the other with 20nm Au nanoparticles. In the presence of pathogen, the close proximity of Au nanoparticles quenched the Alexa Fluor fluorescence, suggesting that the electrospun fiber platforms are suitable for sensing H. Hepaticus. Additionally, sol-gel fibers used as biosensor platform have the added benefit of increased immobilization, as fluorescence intensity from immobilized biosensors is 8.5x106 cps higher on fibers than on a flat, non-porous substrate.