New 3D-printed chip sensor detects foodborne pathogens
Marie Donlon | July 15, 2024A team of researchers from Guangdong University of Technology and Pudong New District People's Hospital has created a new method for detecting foodborne pathogens, thereby improving screening processes and keeping contaminated food out of the hands of consumers.
"Detecting these pathogens is challenging, due to their diverse nature and the various environments in which they can thrive," the researchers explained. "Additionally, low concentrations of pathogens in large food samples, the presence of similar non-pathogenic organisms, and the complex nature of different food types make accurate and rapid detection difficult."
The researchers created a chip with four distinct regions, capable of rapidly testing for the presence of multiple pathogens simultaneously. Source: Feng et al.
Although current detection methods do exist, not every batch of food can be tested thoroughly, thus allowing for some contaminants to slip through. Similarly, these methods could also include lengthy result times and may also require specialized equipment and trained personnel.
As such, the team created a microfluidic chip that relies on light to detect different types of pathogens simultaneously.
The 3D-printed chip is divided into four sections that are each designed to detect a specific pathogen. The team explained that if the pathogen is present in the sample, it will subsequently bind to a detection surface and alter its optical properties. This approach reportedly enabled the researchers to quickly detect several common bacteria, like E. coli, salmonella, listeria and S. aureus, at very low concentrations.
The device is detailed in the article, “3D-printed microfluidic chip integrated with nanointerferometer for multiplex detection of foodborne pathogens,” which appears in the journal AIP Advances.