Detection of Biofilm Infections in Human Fluid Samples using DNA-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Vapor Sensors

Human fluid samples collected from individuals suffering from various biofilm-related infections were analyzed using single-stranded DNA-functionalized carbon nanotube (ssDNA-CNT) vapor sensors. Fluids from infected individuals were collected and categorized by infection type: staph infections and non-staph infections. The samples were placed in individual flasks that were heated in a water bath, and a vapor handling system was used to sequentially deliver the headspace of the samples to an array of CNT devices configured as an “electronic nose”. Each array comprised up to 100 sensors, with each sensor functionalized with one of ten unique sequences of ssDNA, thereby yielding a ten-dimensional output response characteristic of the volatile odor signature of the samples. The resulting data space was dimensionally reduced using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), resulting in a differentiation of staph versus non-staph data clusters.