Immunocapture Device for Pathogen Microorganisms Aislation using

G. J. COPELLO; S. TEVES; J. DEGROSSI; M. D’AQUINO; M. F. DESIMONE; L. E. DÍAZ

Pinamar, Argentina

Congreso; X Panamerican Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Congress y XLI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2005

  The sol-gel chemistry is a method used to generate silicon oxide polymers from different precursors, such as silicates or alkoxysilanes [1]. Its applications have been increased in the past years due to the versatility of the materials [2]. Since they remain stable in time and are not toxic to microorganisms, plants or mammals, they are compatible with microbiology, biotechnology and medicine applications [3, 4]. The sol-gel method is utilized frequently in glass derivatization  in order to attach reactive groups carried in a silicon oxide matrix to the surface. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-Aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES) were used to generate a silicon polymer with amine groups capable to form a Schiff base with glutaraldehyde, leaving the other end of the glutaraldehyde molecule free to react with an amine group of an antibody. In this work, in order to demonstrate biological activity of the immobilized Ab, polyclonal antiserum directed against Escherichia coli O157 was used to prepare immunocapture devices using glass slides. Different mixtures of E. coli O157 and generic E. coli, with and without an enrichment step, were used in the evaluation of the specificity and sensibility of the device.