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Updated: Jul 6, 2025
Stress-induced Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing on a Chip
Published on: January 8, 2014
Controlled-diffusion centrifugal microfluidic for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing
Zheng Pang1, Shunji Li1, Shangang Wang1
1The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Abstract:
The abuse of antibiotics has become a global public safety issue, leading to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The development of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is crucial in reducing the growth of AMR. However, traditional AST methods are time-consuming (e.g., 24-72 h), labor-intensive, and costly. Here, we propose a controlled-diffusion centrifugal microfluidic platform (CCM) for rapid AST to obtain highly precise minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Antibiotic concentration gradients are generated by controlled moving and diffusing of antibiotic and buffer solution along the main microchannel within 3 min. The solution and bacterial suspension are then injected into the outermost reaction chamber by simple centrifugation. The CCM successfully determined the MIC for three commonly used antibiotics in clinical settings within 4-9 h. To further enhance practicality, reduce costs, and meet point-of-care testing demands, we have developed an integrated mobile detection platform for automated MIC value acquisition. The proposed CCM is a simple, low-cost, and portable method for rapid AST with broad clinical and in vitro applications.
Insights
A novel centrifugal microfluidic platform offers rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) within hours. This technology provides a low-cost, portable solution for determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microfluidics
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research
Background:
- Antibiotic abuse fuels antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global public safety concern.
- Traditional antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods are slow, labor-intensive, and expensive.
- Rapid AST is essential for effective treatment and AMR containment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid, precise, and cost-effective platform for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).
- To establish a controlled-diffusion centrifugal microfluidic (CCM) platform for determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values.
- To create an integrated mobile detection system for point-of-care AST.
Main Methods:
- A controlled-diffusion centrifugal microfluidic (CCM) platform was designed to generate antibiotic concentration gradients.
- Antibiotic and buffer solutions were diffused along a microchannel within 3 minutes.
- Bacterial suspension and solutions were combined in reaction chambers via centrifugation for rapid MIC determination.
Main Results:
- The CCM platform successfully determined minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for three common antibiotics within 4-9 hours.
- The method demonstrated high precision in MIC value acquisition.
- An integrated mobile detection platform was developed for automated MIC acquisition, enhancing practicality and reducing costs.
Conclusions:
- The proposed CCM platform offers a simple, low-cost, and portable solution for rapid AST.
- This technology has broad clinical and in vitro applications for combating antimicrobial resistance.
- The CCM platform facilitates faster clinical decisions and supports point-of-care testing needs.
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