A smartphone-based fluorescent sensor for rapid detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Accurate and rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria is crucial for public health.
• Existing methods often require complex laboratory equipment and trained personnel.
• There is a need for portable, cost-effective, and sensitive diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorescent sensor for the sensitive and simultaneous detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria.
• To integrate magnetic separation, fluorescent probes, and smartphone image processing into a portable device.
• To achieve real-time field detection of bacteria with high sensitivity and speed.

Main Methods:

• Assembly of a microchannel device using high-transparency resin and 3D printing.
• Synthesis of three distinct fluorescent probes targeting specific bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa).
• Utilizing molecularly imprinted materials for simultaneous bacterial separation and enrichment.
• Smartphone-based Red-Green-Blue (RGB) analysis for quantitative detection.

Main Results:

• The developed fluorescent sensor achieved sensitive detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria.
• Sensitivity reached 10^2 CFU/mL with a rapid detection time of 40 minutes.
• The system demonstrated autonomous detection capabilities using smartphone image processing.
• Different bacterial species were distinguished by unique fluorescence colors.

Conclusions:

• This work presents a simple, inexpensive, and real-time fluorescent sensor for detecting multiple pathogenic bacteria.
• The sensor is suitable for field applications in medical diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring.
• The integrated approach offers a promising platform for point-of-care diagnostics and public health surveillance.