Solvothermal synthesis of α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons and its application in an immunochromatographic strip test for the detection of foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

The immunochromatographic strip test (ICST) is a powerful on-site detection technology due to its unique advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and readability by the naked eye. Here we illustrate the potential of α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons as a novel visual label, which exhibit advantages of high stability and economy, for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) as a model foodborne pathogen. A low-cost and simple one-step solvothermal approach was developed for the synthesis of α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons; the average diameter of the α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons is about 200 nm. The crystal structure and morphology of α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons were characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. α-Fe2O3 polyhedrons were immunized with anti-L. monocytogenes antibody to prepare an antibody–colloidal α-Fe2O3 polyhedron ICST. Visual detection can be obtained directly by the naked eye within 10 min. The detection limit of L. monocytogenes by α-Fe2O3 polyhedron ICST assay was 3.8 × 106 and 5.6 × 106 CFU/ml of pure culture and artificially spiked orange juice drink sample, respectively. Results indicated that the antibody–colloidal α-Fe2O3 polyhedron ICST is a rapid, simple, and low-cost assay. This approach showed great potential in the application of foodborne pathogen detection concerning food safety.