Phage Langmuir-Blodgett films for biosensing applications

The microstructure and functionality of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biosensors prepared from novel Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of lytic bacteriophage were characterized using scanning imaging ellipsometry (SIE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM revealed uniform distribution of phage monolayers immobilized to biosensor substrates. SIE indicated monolayers were 49.8 ± 18.3 nm thick on average. SIE charged couple imaging analysis of biosensors yielded an average intensity of 159±7 and 194±13 for 10
⁸
and 10
⁹
CFU/ml MRSA concentrations, respectively.