DIRECT WRITING OF FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MILK QUALITY POINT-OF-CARE TESTS 

DIRECT WRITING OF FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR MILK QUALITY POINT-OF-CARE TESTS

By Ph.D. student Alida Russo (Tyndall)

Over the years antibiotics have been life-changing and often life-saving for both humans and animals. However, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is becoming a threat to human health because of an overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, livestock farming, pharmaceutical industries and aquaculture. Residual antibiotics have been found in soil, water, and food. 

The aim of this project is to develop a Multiplex Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the detection of residual antibiotics in milk using commercial writing pens (BIC® or fountain pens) loaded with biomolecules and nanoparticle inks. This “BioPen”  will allow the bioassay reagents to be “written” directly on nitrocellulose paper, enabling easy point-of-care analysis. The readout will be in the form of both colorimetric (ink colour change) and spectroscopic (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering) outputs, thus providing a high level of detection. 

By using this BioPen and nitrocellulose paper, farmers will be able to quickly spot samples of milk and get an immediate colour readout of the presence or absence of antibiotics, providing them with the information they require to choose the best course of action and treatment. It is hoped that the development of this BioPen assay will help to reduce AMR by reducing the presence of antibiotics in milk.

Current work is focusing on functionalising the metal nanoparticles with antibodies for targeted applications within VistaMilk. 

Contact: Student: Alida Russo (alida.russo@tyndall.ie) 

Supervisor: Daniela Iacopino (daniela.iacopino@tyndall.ie)