Microfluidic devices for sample preparation and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens

Abstract

Rapid detection of foodborne pathogens at an early stage is imperative for preventing the outbreak of foodborne diseases, known as serious threats to human health. Conventional bacterial culturing methods for foodborne pathogen detection are time consuming, laborious, and with poor pathogen diagnosis competences. This has prompted researchers to call the current status of detection approaches into question and leverage new technologies for superior pathogen sensing outcomes. Novel strategies mainly rely on incorporating all the steps from sample preparation to detection in miniaturized devices for online monitoring of pathogens with high accuracy and sensitivity in a time-saving and cost effective manner. Lab on chip is a blooming area in diagnosis, which exploits different mechanical and biological techniques to detect very low concentrations of pathogens in food samples. This is achieved through streamlining the sample handling and concentrating procedures, which will subsequently reduce human errors and enhance the accuracy of the sensing methods. Integration of sample preparation techniques into these devices can effectively minimize the impact of complex food matrix on pathogen diagnosis and improve the limit of detections. Integration of pathogen capturing bio-receptors on microfluidic devices is a crucial step, which can facilitate recognition abilities in harsh chemical and physical conditions, offering a great commercial benefit to the food-manufacturing sector. This article reviews recent advances in current state-of-the-art of sample preparation and concentration from food matrices with focus on bacterial capturing methods and sensing technologies, along with their advantages and limitations when integrated into microfluidic devices for online rapid detection of pathogens in foods and food production line.

A High-Throughput Microfluidic Magnetic Separation (µFMS) Platform for Water Quality Monitoring

“…Microfluidic devices possess advantages in terms of their size, low-cost fabrication, and the possibility of parallel device operation [10]. Different microparticle/cell separation microfluidic technologies have been developed for large amount of particles/cells using acoustic, dielectric, thermal, or magnetic properties, among others as reviewed by Y.…”

“…Also, these DLD example devices possess an enrichment step and use multiple pumps [13] or have been tested to process up to 5 mL samples with a 91% targeted cell capture efficiency [14]. Microfluidic devices that make use of magnetic field gradients to enhance selectivity and increase throughput in cell separation and trapping applications have been developed [10,[15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Rapid detection of foodborne bacterial pathogens using visual high‐throughput microfluidic chip

“…According to a report published in 2015, the global burden was 33 million disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) due to foodborne diseases brought about by 31 foodborne hazards (bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals) . Foodborne pathogens widely contaminate both foods and meats and are subsequently transmitted to the human body . The traditional culturing methods of foodborne pathogenic bacteria are time‐consuming and laborious, so it is crucial to accomplish early detection of the pathogens from different food and meat samples .…”

“…2,3 The traditional culturing methods of foodborne pathogenic bacteria are time-consuming and laborious, so it is crucial to accomplish early detection of the pathogens from different food and meat samples. 2,3 Although a national molecular tracing network for foodborne disease was established in 2013 in China, 4 such demands have heightened the development of new tools and techniques for accurate detection of foodborne pathogens with rapidity and user-friendliness. 5 Up to present, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most powerful analytical method of nucleic acid detection by virtue of its higher sensitivity and specificity.…”

Rotary manifold for automating a paper-basedSalmonellaimmunoassay

“…14,16,18,19 Recently, mPADs have been used to detect multiple foodborne pathogens with the goal of creating a simple screening test. [20][21][22][23] In these works, traditional antibody-based immunoassays, enzymatic detection, and electrochemical methods were adapted for use in mPADs. Although they are a promising technology, mPADs frequently suffer from inadequate sensitivity and high detection limits compared to traditional methods like PCR and ELISA.…”