Integrating acoustic microfluidics with spectroscopic analysis for efficient bacterial lysis and molecular
Neha Mehlawat1, Chi-Wen Tseng2, Abanoub Shenoda3
1Dynamic Micro Devices Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Monash Biospectroscopy Group, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|August 12, 2025
Summary
We developed a reagent-free acoustofluidic platform for rapid bacterial lysis using bulk acoustic waves (BAWs). This method efficiently lyses bacteria in milliseconds, preserving biomolecules for downstream analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Bacterial lysis is essential for diagnostics but conventional methods face challenges.
- Existing techniques often compromise biomolecule integrity and increase workflow complexity.
- There is a need for efficient, reagent-free bacterial lysis methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel acoustofluidic platform for rapid bacterial lysis.
- To demonstrate the reagent-free, non-thermal nature of the lysis method.
- To evaluate the efficiency and compatibility of the lysis method with downstream applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) to generate acoustic streaming and shear forces for bacterial cell disruption.
- Employed Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria.
- Assessed lysis efficiency using colony counting, live/dead imaging, and DNA quantification.
- Integrated Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for biomolecular characterization.
- Confirmed sample integrity and compatibility with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and protein quantification assays.
Main Results:
- Achieved high lysis efficiencies: ~82% for E. coli and ~50% for E. faecalis within milliseconds.
- Demonstrated preservation of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids) with enhanced spectral intensities post-lysis.
- Confirmed successful downstream applications, including 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification and protein quantification.
- Verified the reagent-free and non-thermal nature of the acoustofluidic lysis process.
Conclusions:
- The acoustofluidic platform offers a rapid, efficient, and reagent-free solution for bacterial lysis.
- This method preserves biomolecule integrity, making it suitable for various downstream molecular analyses.
- The streamlined and scalable approach minimizes contamination risks, ideal for integrated diagnostic platforms and environmental monitoring.
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