Abstract

A Fully Automated Lab-on-a-Chip Platform For Biological Applications

Zeynep Altintas, Head of Biosensors and Receptor Development Group, Technical University of Berlin

We have engineered and manufactured a fully automated microfluidic-based sensor. Its potential was initially determined for aflaxotin detection in food samples. The microfluidics and the chip design were further improved and the sensor was successfully employed for various pathogenic bacteria diagnosis in water and health samples. The quantification of Escherichia coli in water samples and Salmonella typhimurium in human stool samples were achieved in a wide concentration range with LODs of 50 and 12 cfu mL^-1, respectively. Furthermore, the detection of Salmonella DNA was achieved down to 0.94 nM with very high specificity and sensitivity. The sensor surface could be regenerated multiple times for all bioassays, which significantly reduces the cost. Each step of the bioassays were successfully characterized using atomic force microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Our custom-designed microfludic sensor provides rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for pathogen detection. It is capable of detecting carcinogenic toxins, various bacteria species and their DNAs with high sensitivity and specificity, and can serve as a promising tool for pathogen detection in environmental and medical samples.