Functionalized Magnetic Iron Oxide (Fe₃O₄) Nanoparticles for Capturing Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria

The development of nanotechnology in biology and medicine has raised the need for conjugation of nanoparticles (NPs) to biomolecules. In this study, magnetic and functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and used as affinity probes to capture Gram-positive/negative bacteria. The morphology and properties of the magnetic NPs were examined by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. Furthermore, this study investigated the interaction between functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and Gram positive/negative bacteria. The positively and negatively charged magnetic nanoparticles include functionalities of Fe₃O₄, SiO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, poly ethyleneimine (PEI) and poly acrylic acid. Their capture efficiencies for bacteria were investigated based on factors such as zeta potential, concentration and pH value. PEI particles carry a positive charge over a range of pH values from 3 to 10, and the particles were found to be an excellent candidate for capturing bacteria over such pH range. Since the binding force is mainly electrostatic, the architecture and orientation of the functional groups on the NP surface are not critical. Finally the captured bacteria were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The minimum detection limit was 10⁴ CFU/mL and the analysis time was reduced to be less than 1 hour. In addition, the detection limit could be reduced to an extremely low concentration of 50 CFU/mL when captured bacteria were cultivated.