Phage Langmuir-Blodgett Films for Biosensing Applications

The microstructure of novel Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer films prepared from lytic bacteriophage as a biorecognition coating for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial biosensors was characterized using scanning imaging ellipsometry (SIE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High lateral resolution SIE appeared to be ideal for the non-destructive analysis of ultra-thin organic LB films and complementary to SEM in comparison to other invasive techniques including atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Field emission SEM permitted visual examination of monolayer structure. SIE allowed film thickness analysis, 3D mapping and monolayer surface imaging, and charged-coupled device (CCD) biosensing of MRSA.