On-site bioaerosol sampling and detection in microfluidic platforms

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Airborne diseases like COVID-19, MERS-CoV, Influenza A virus (IAV), and SARS highlight the need for effective bioaerosol monitoring.
• Current methods for detecting airborne microorganisms face limitations in sensitivity and real-time, on-field application due to low bioaerosol concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• This review explores advancements in microfluidic platforms for bioaerosol monitoring.
• It aims to bridge knowledge gaps in utilizing microfluidics for on-site detection of airborne pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Discusses sources, transmission, and sampling strategies for bioaerosols.
• Reviews analytical methodologies and recent microfluidic advancements for sample preparation (sorting, concentrating, extracting).
• Examines rapid, field-deployable detection methods and integrated platforms for on-site bioaerosol analysis.

Main Results:

• Microfluidic devices show potential for lab-on-a-chip applications in bioaerosol collection and analysis.
• Recent developments focus on enhancing sample preparation and detection capabilities on microfluidic platforms.
• Integrated microfluidic platforms are being developed for comprehensive on-site bioaerosol monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidics offers a powerful approach to overcome limitations in current bioaerosol monitoring technologies.
• The development of integrated microfluidic platforms is key for effective on-site detection and control of airborne diseases.
• This review provides valuable insights into the application of microfluidics for real-time bioaerosol surveillance.