Title:

Prin. Investigator:
Co-Prin. Investigator:
Organization:
COE:
Congressional District:
Project Start Date:
Project Completion Date:
Annual Budget :

Application of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Detection of Chemical and Biological

Terror Agents in Food Matrices II
Ted Labuza
Francisco Diez-Gonzalez
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
NCFPD - National Center for Food Protection and Defense
4th -- Minnesota - Betty McCollum
9/2010
8/2012
$297,901.00

Risk Profile: None

Patent Disclosure: None

Human Subjects: No
DNA: No

Animal Experimentation: No
Toxins: Yes :

Academic Disciplines:
--Chemistry
--Food science
--Nanoparticle science/technology

Analytic Methods:
--Statistical Analysis

Anticipated End Users:

--Academic Community
--Agricultural Agencies
--Colleges and Universities
--DHS Labs
--FDA
--First Responders
--Food Agencies
--Food and Agriculture Industries
--Food Industry
--Health Agencies
--National Labs
--Public Health Agencies
--State and Local First Responders
--State and Local Food and Agriculture Labs
--University Researchers
--USDA

Data Collection Methods:

--Bench Tests

Project Keywords:
--detection
--Ricin
--SERS

Topic/Research Areas:
--Biological Threats and Countermeasures
--Chemical Threats and Countermeasures
--Food and Agriculture Security
--Risk and Decision Sciences

Journal Articles:
He L.; Deen B.; Rodda T.; Ronningen I.; Blasius T.; Haynes C.L.;, Diez-Gonzalez F.; Labuza T.P.* 2011. Rapid detection of ricin
in milk using immunogenic separation coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. J. Food Sci. In press. doi:
10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02196.x He L.; Lamont E.,Veeregowda B., Sreevatsan S. Haynes C.L.;, Diez-Gonzalez F.; Labuza
T.P.* 2011. Aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of ricin in liquid foods. Chem. Sci. In press.
DOI:10.1039/C1SC00201E Lamont, Elise A.; He, Lili; Warriner, Keith; Labuza, Theodore P.; Sreevatsan, Srinand 2011. A single
DNA apatamer functions as a biosensor for ricin. Analyst, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/C1AN15352H He, Lili; Lamont, Elise;
Veeregowda, Belamaranahally; Sreevatsan, Srinand; Haynes, Christy L.; Diez-Gonzalez, Francisco; Labuza, Theodore P. 2011.
Aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of ricin in liquid foods. Chem. Sci., 2011, 2, 15779 DOI:
10.1039/c1sc00201e
Other Publications:
N/A

Summary :

In our 2009-2010 project, we have successfully developed a novel method which combines immunomagnetic

Application of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Detection of Chemical and Biological Terror Agents in Food Matrices II
Sun, September 30, 2012

Page 1 of 2

In our 2009-2010 project, we have successfully developed a novel method which combines immunomagnetic
separation (IMS) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect ovalbumin (OVA) a protein toxin
surrogate in whole milk in less than 20 min. IMS was used to specifically capture the OVA out of the milk. Then
SERS was applied to analyze the IMS eluate using silver dendrites as the substrate. With the aid of principal
component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis, we were able to achieve both qualitative and
quantitative analysis. The limit of detection was 1 ?g OVA in 1 mL milk. A modified SERS immunoassay which
directly uses silver dendrite adsorbed with antibody instead of immunomagnetic beads is currently under study. This
method is expected to be more economical than the previous assay. The objectives of this proposed continuing
project are to apply, improve, and validate these two SERS immunoassays to detect 1) real ricin in milk and other
complex food matrices, 2) Bacillus anthrax spore surrogate in milk and validate using real anthrax spores in milk and
other complex food matrices. For ricin detection, both antibody and aptamer will be used as capturers. The DNA
aptamer is expected to give more distinct SERS patterns compared with protein antibody and antigen, providing a
more sensitive way of detection. For spore detection, the use of a Raman microscope to optically locate the
captured spores may help increase the sensitivity and accuracy. Both PCA and PLS will be applied for qualitative
and quantitative analysis. Another objective is to test the feasibility of using a portable Raman instrument in SERS
immunoassays. It is expected that the SERS immunoassays based on a portable Raman instrument will be rapid,
cost-effective, and fiedable in detection of bioweapons in complex food matrices.

Application of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Detection of Chemical and Biological Terror Agents in Food Matrices II
Sun, September 30, 2012

Page 2 of 2