Separation of Vibrio cholerae O-1 Using Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles

Cholera is a disabling infectious disease that is caused by Vibrio cholera O-1& O-139. The current procedures for the detection and enumeration of V. cholerae bacteria can often be costly in labor, materials, and time.The aim of this study was to evaluate the separation of V. cholerae O-1 using Immunomagnetic separation.

In this study, the polyclonal antibody against bacterial surface antigen (ompW) was immobilized on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and this approach was used to isolate bacteria from environment. Immobilizing process was applied using the 11-MUA in the presence of EDC and NHS. To confirm the immobilizing process, two methods (FTIR spectroscopy and Brad Ford proteinassy) were used. Bacterial strains from two medical centers of Tehran clinical samples were collected and identified using biochemical methods.

Functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles with antibody against ompW was successfuly accomplished. Nanoparticles were added to the environments containing bacteria and applying magnetic fields, the bacteria were isolated from the buffer. This method can isolate V. cholerae O-1 bacteria up to 2cfu from buffer samples. Culturing the bacteria attached to nanoparticles in specific media confirmed this isolation method.

The results showed that, in comparison to other separating methods, this technique is more powerful.