Real-time and rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium using an inexpensive lab-built surface plasmon resonance setup

Cost-effective diagnostic platforms for rapid pathogen detection are always incumbent in both developing and developed worlds. However, exorbitant diagnostic expenses and the inability to detect pathogens early are a matter of concern for the sustainability and affordability of healthcare devices, which are crucial for deciding how to provide healthcare solutions to the masses, especially in developing countries. Herein, we present the rapid and real-time detection of Salmonella Typhimurium using an inexpensive lab-built surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging set up. Pathogen detection is accomplished with the aid of a monoclonal antibody immobilized on a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide): N-hydroxysuccinimide-modified self-assembled monolayer covalently bonded to a Au thin film. Successful pathogen detection is performed at two concentrations, ∼1.5 × 10⁸ and ∼1 × 10⁶ cfu ml^-1, in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The developed system is capable of detecting bacterial cells within 6-7 min after their injection into the SPR sensor surface. The present study reveals a cost-effective device having high potential for pathogen detection without any labelling tags.