Sensors for Environmental Contaminants
Funding: National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech Institute of Critical Technology and Applied Science, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association, Water Research Foundation
We are interested in the development and testing of sensor technologies for the detection of environmental contaminants. A current focus of our work in this area is in the use of Raman spectroscopy and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to detect both biologic as well as organic contaminants.
SERS Based Detection of Infectious Organisms
We developed a SERS based approach for the rapid detection of the pathogenic organisms Cryptosporidium and Giardia. This method employs dye-labeled, antibody functionalized gold nanoparticles for pathogen detection. Coupling the sensitivity and specificity of these nanoparticles with a membrane based isolation step facilities single organis identification and enumeration. We are presently working to extend this approach to bacterial and viral pathogens.
Reference publication: Rule, K.L. and Vikesland, P.J. (2009). “Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy for the Rapid Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia.” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 43, pp 1147-1152.
SERS Substrate Development
SERS has great potential as a tool for the sensitive detection of environmental contaminants. A challenge that must be met, however, is the variability in signal intensity that typically plagues SERS measurements. Our group has recently developed stable, robust sensors that exhibit broad applicability for sensitive contaminant detection. These sensors utilize a nanocellulose matrix to enhance the stability of the nanoparticle sensors.
Reference publication: Wei, H. and Vikesland, P.J. (2015). “Preparation and Evaluation of Nanocellulose–Gold Nanoparticle Nanocomposites for SERS Applications.” The Analyst, Vol. 140, pp 5640-5649.
Dr. Peter Vikesland
1145 Perry Street (0246)
415 Durham Hall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Vikesland Research Group
E-mail: pvikes 'at' vt edu
(540) 231-3568
