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.
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