Detecting Xanthan Gum

Abstract

Detecting xanthan gum in a sampling location includes delivering a tagged polypeptide to the sampling location. The tagged polypeptide includes a polypeptide and a fluorescent probe bound to the polypeptide, such that the fluorescent probe is released from the polypeptide to yield an unbound fluorescent probe when the polypeptide interacts with xanthan gum. Light that excites the unbound fluorescent probe is directed toward the sampling location, and an intensity of fluorescence emitted from the unbound fluorescent probe is assessed, wherein a non-zero intensity is indicative of the presence of xanthan gum in the sampling location. A device for the detection of xanthan gum has a sensing region including the tagged polypeptide, a light source adapted to direct light to the sensing region, the light source adapted to provide one or more wavelengths of light to excite the fluorescent probe, and a detector for detecting fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent probe.

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