An all-in-one microfluidic SlipChip for power-free and rapid biosensing of pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

Point-of-care testing of pathogens is becoming more and more important for the prevention and control of food poisoning. Herein, a power-free colorimetric biosensor was presented for rapid detection of Salmonella using a microfluidic SlipChip for fluidic control and Au@PtPd nanocatalysts for signal amplification. All the procedures, including solution mixing, immune reaction, magnetic separation, residual washing, mimicking catalysis and colorimetric detection, were integrated on this SlipChip. First, the mixture of the bacterial sample, immune magnetic nanobeads (IMBs) and immune Au@PtPd nanocatalysts (INCs), washing buffer and H₂O₂–TMB chromogenic substrate were preloaded into the sample, washing and catalysis chambers, respectively. After the top layer of this SlipChip was slid to connect the sample chamber with the separation chamber, the mixture was moved back and forth through the asymmetrical split-and-recombine micromixer by using a disposable syringe to form the IMB–Salmonella–INC sandwich conjugates. Then, the conjugates were captured in the separation chamber using a magnetic field, and the top layer was slid to connect the washing chamber with the separation chamber for washing away excessive INCs. Finally, the top layer was slid to connect the catalysis chamber with the separation chamber, and the colorless substrate was catalyzed by the INCs with peroxidase-mimic activity to generate color change, followed by using a smartphone app to collect and analyze the image to determine the bacterial concentration. This all-in-one microfluidic biosensor enabled simple detection of Salmonella as low as 101.2 CFU mL⁻¹ within 30 min and was featured with low cost, straightforward operation, and compact design.