Highly sensitive detection of Campylobacter spp. In chicken meat using a silica nanoparticle enhanced dot blot DNA biosensor

Paper-based DNA biosensors are powerful tools in point-of-care diagnostics since they are affordable, portable, user-friendly, rapid and robust. However, their sensitivity is not always as high as required to enable DNA quantification. To improve the response of standard dot blots, we have applied a new enhancement strategy that increases the sensitivity of assays based on the use of biotinylated silica-nanoparticles (biotin-Si-NPs). After immobilization of a genomic Campylobacter DNA onto a paper membrane, and addition of a biotinylated-DNA detection probe, hybridization was evidenced using streptavidin-conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of luminol and H2O2. Replacement of the single biotin by the biotin-Si-NPs boosted on average a 30 fold chemiluminescent read-out of the biosensor. Characterization of biotin-Si-NPs onto a paper with immobilized DNA was done using a scanning electron microscope. A limit of detection of 3 pg/μL of DNA, similar to the available qPCR kits, is achieved, but it is cheaper, easier and avoids inhibition of DNA polymerase by molecules from the food matrices. We demonstrated that the new dot blot coupled to biotin-Si-NPs successfully detected Campylobacter from naturally contaminated chicken meat, without needing a PCR step. Hence, such an enhanced dot blot paves the path to the development of a portable and multiplex paper based platform for point-of-care screening of chicken carcasses for Campylobacter. [Display omitted] •Enhanced chemiluminescent signal on DNA dot blot.•Single extra step involving biotinylated Si-nanoparticles boosts the signal 30 times.•Paper-based detection of bacterial DNA without pre-amplification.•Useful technology to monitor Campylobacter in naturally contaminated chicken meat.