ABSTRACT
Understanding the biology of bacteria is critical for exploiting their beneficial properties and for preventing and treating bacterial diseases. Nanobioscience is an area that has recently seen major scientific progress. Here, we demonstrate that a raspberry-shaped nanostructure with a high density of gold nanoparticles acts like an excellent antenna due to its optical properties, which permit sensitive detection and analysis of bacterial cells. By using antibodies, these nanoantennas can be engineered to recognize only specific bacterial species. This system provides a new technique that will allow for more sensitive detection of specific bacteria.
Subject(s)
Escherichia coli/chemistry , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Nanostructures/chemistry , Nanotechnology/methods , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/chemistry , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli/cytology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/cytologyABSTRACT
We demonstrate a simple manipulation of gold nanoparticles that creates a structure-dependent nanometer-scale antenna on the surface of bacteria. Our studies illuminate the concept of the "effective use of light" based on the absorption and emission of light by antennas formed on bacteria.
