3D printed microfluidic chip integrated with nanointerferometer for multiplex detection of foodborne pathogens

An article in AIP Advanced (June 2024, Vol 14, issue 6, by S. Feng et al. from Guangzhou University in China describes a new method to detect food pathogens. The current foodborne pathogen detection methods are slow, expensive, and require well-trained operators. In this study, the authors utilized a 3D printer to develop a novel chip with an aptamer-based nanointerferometer capable of identifying four distinct foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. The aptamer sensor on the chip achieved a limit of detection of 10 colony forming units (CFU)/ml. With its high sensitivity and specificity, this chip offers a cost-effective platform for distinguishing and screening different foodborne pathogens. The system detection is based on observing optical signal shifts corresponding to the concentrations of the different foodborne pathogens. The sensor has demonstrated the ability to detect concentrations as low as 10 CFU/ml of each pathogen in a buffer solution, which is significantly lower than the concentration that can cause illness. The research used a 3D printer to create a chip with an array of optical aptamer-based sensors called the NanoFPI sensor and a 3D stop-valve system for autonomous pathogen transfer. @ https://pubs.aip.org/aip/adv/article/14/6/065033/3299200/3D-printed-microfluidic-chip-integrated-with