Method to detect/identify bacterial species using flow cytometry and surface enhanced Raman scattering

US10132808B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by Secretary of the Navy · US

Inventors

• Pamela A. Boss · San Diego, US
• Kara C. Sorensen · San Diego, US
• Robert George · Dayton, US
• Anna Obraztsova · San Diego, US
• Jonathon Keith Oiler · Fort Collins, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 2016
• Grant date: Nov 20, 2018
• Expiry date: Feb 15, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/1006
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method uses flow cytometry to prepare surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for obtaining SERS spectra of bacteria. The method involves using a flow cytometer to sort bacterial cells into populations of bacterial cells based upon their biophysical characteristics. The cells may then be washed with a borate buffer to remove any chemical species that degrade the SERS response. A colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then created by mixing one of the populations of bacterial cells with SERS-active colloidal particles. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is incubated until the SERS-active colloidal particles partition through the capsule and bind to the cell wall for each bacterial cell in the colloid-coated bacteria suspension. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then disposed onto a filter and a SERS spectra of the colloid-coated bacteria suspension is obtained using a Raman spectrometer.