Optomagnetic read-out enables easy, rapid, and cost-efficient qualitative biplex detection of bacterial DNA sequences

There is an increasing need to develop novel bioassay methods for low-cost, rapid, and easy-to-use multiplex detection of pathogens in various fields ranging from human infectious disease diagnosis, drinking water quality control, to food safety applications. Due to their unique advantages, magnetic and optomagnetic bioassay principles are particularly promising for biodetection platforms that will be used in developing countries. In this paper, an optomagnetic method for rapid and cost-efficient qualitative biplex detection of bacterial DNA sequences is demonstrated. Within less than two hours, the assay gives an answer to whether none, both, or only one of the bacterial DNA sequences is present in the sample. The assay relies on hybridization of oligonucleotide-functionalized magnetic nanobeads of two different sizes to rolling circle amplification (RCA) products originating from two different bacterial targets. The different bead sizes are equipped with different oligonucleotide probes, complementary to only one of the RCA products, and the read-out is carried out in the same sample volume. In an optomagnetic setup, the frequency modulation of transmitted laser light in response to an applied AC magnetic field is measured. The presented methodology is potentially interesting for low-cost screening of pathogens relating to both human and veterinary medicine in resource-poor regions of the world.