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Nano-lantern on paper for smartphone-based ATP detection.
Maria Maddalena Calabretta1, Ruslan Álvarez-Diduk2, Elisa Michelini3
1Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
A novel paper biosensor utilizes freeze-dried bioluminescence for rapid bacterial ATP detection. This user-friendly, portable device enables sensitive microbial contamination screening and cell viability studies on-site.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biosensing
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-driven bioluminescence is crucial for detecting microbial contamination and assessing cell viability.
- Current ATP detection kits lack user-friendliness, portability, and on-site screening capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a user-friendly, stable, and portable ATP sensing paper biosensor.
- To enable rapid, on-site detection of microbial contamination using smartphone technology.
Main Methods:
- An innovative freeze-drying procedure was used to create a stable, ready-to-use ATP sensing paper.
- The paper incorporates a lyophilized "nano-lantern" system for rapid reconstitution with sample.
- Smartphone detection was integrated for data acquisition.
Main Results:
- The developed ATP sensing paper achieved a sensitivity of 10-14 mol of ATP within 10 minutes.
- The biosensor successfully detected urinary microbial ATP, identifying the positivity threshold for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- The device demonstrated capability to detect 105 colony-forming units/mL of bacteria in urine samples.
Conclusions:
- The freeze-dried ATP sensing paper offers a user-friendly, stable, and portable solution for rapid ATP detection.
- This technology holds significant potential for on-site hygiene monitoring, food safety, and clinical diagnostics, such as UTI screening.
