Development of a Mass-Producible Microfluidic Device for Single and Bulk Mycobacteria Investigations

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Microbiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance Research

Background:

• Conventional microfluidic devices lack standardization, leading to inconsistencies in bacterial studies.
• Observing bacterial growth and interactions is critical for understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Pathogenic bacteria like *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* require safe and effective surrogate models for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mass-producible microfluidic device for consistent, long-term observation of bacterial cultures.
• To establish a reliable platform for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) studies using surrogate models.
• To enable detailed analysis of bacterial growth morphologies and interactions.

Main Methods:

• Standardized manufacturing of microfluidic devices for high consistency.
• Utilizing capillary-based techniques for trapping *Mycobacteria bovis* BCG and *M. smegmatis*.
• Conducting long-term observations across ten bacterial growth cycles.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic device demonstrated high consistency across separate units.
• Successful long-term observation of individual bacilli and bulk bacteria aggregates was achieved.
• Observed bacterial growth morphologies were consistent with previous research findings.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic device is suitable for mass production and consistent long-term bacterial studies.
• This platform serves as an effective surrogate model for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research involving *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*.
• The device facilitates detailed analysis of bacterial behavior crucial for AMR development.