Fluorescent detection of the dipicolinic acid as a unique biomarker of bacterial spores using terbium/europium chelated gold nanoparticles

Bacterial spores are structures produced by bacterial cells in order to survive harsh conditions. Detecting bacterial spores and determining their concentration are very useful in applications from space science to national security, as well as health and foood industry. Detection of endospores below the dangerous level and determination of their concentration are very important. Fluorescent sensors are used for detection biomolecules or non-fluorescent ions. This method is based on spectral changes of molecules which has a interaction with biomolecules or ions. In recent years fluorescent spectroscopy of lanthanides has been used for these methods. Gold nanoparticles are being currently used in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine because of their biocompatibility and optoelectronic properties. In this thesis, gold nanoparticles, active ligands and their lanthanide complexes were synthesized and used for the fluorescent detection of dipicolinic acid, a unique biomarker of bacterial spores. We designed lanthanide chelated modified gold nanoparticles to use for sensing and detecting dipicolinic acid.