Piezoresistive microcantilever-based DNA sensor for sensitive detection of pathogenic Vibrio cholerae O1 in food sample

Pathogenic Vibrio cholerae produces a cholera toxin which is the cause of a severe diarrheal disease called “Cholera”. Available detection methods, including standard bacteriological test and immuno-based detection, are specific to the suspected pathogenic V. cholerae O1 and O139, but they are not specific to the cholera toxin producible strain. This work combined the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cholera toxin gene, ctxA gene, and microcantilever-based DNA sensor to improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection. Gold coated microcantilever, 250µm long and 50µm wide, with an embedded polysilicon wire acting as a piezoresistive material was modified by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) for immobilization of specific DNA probe via avidin layer on the surface. The avidin and 5′ biotinylated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe concentrations were optimized for the immobilization at 50µg/mL and 1µM, respectively. The hybridization between ssDNA probe on this DNA sensor and target DNA creates nanomechanical bending and resistance change of piezoresistive material inside the beam. This microcantilever-based DNA sensor offers a detection sensitivity of 3.25pg or 14nM of DNA template for ctxA gene detection. The lowest number of V. cholerae O1 in food sample with and without the enrichment process that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for ctxA gene combined with this DNA sensor can detect is 0.835 and 835cells/g, respectively. This detection sensitivity is 10 times higher than that of the conventional PCR method. •The sensor for ctxA gene has been developed using piezoresistive microcantilever.•The sensor consists of ssDNA probe on the MPA-treated microcantilever surface.•This sensor together with PCR offers ctxA gene detection range between 2pg and 2ng.•This system is able to detect V. cholera 835cells/g without the enrichment process.•9h enrichment is required for detection of 1 V. cholera cell in 1g of food.