Field-Deployable Immuno-Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Photothermal Imaging for Rapid Pathogen Surveillance...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Portable and rapid pathogen detection is crucial for public health surveillance.
• Conventional methods are limited by complex sample preparation and bulky equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, sensitive, and portable platform for on-site pathogen detection in complex matrices.
• To integrate immunosolid-phase microextraction (iSPME) with portable photothermal imaging (PI).

Main Methods:

• Antibody-functionalized SPME fibers with SiO2 microspheres for efficient pathogen capture.
• NIR-responsive plasmonic Au nanoprobes for photothermal signal transduction.
• Direct immunocomplex formation on the fiber for spatially resolved quantification.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid (15 min) and high-efficiency pathogen capture (73.7-98.9% recovery).
• Demonstrated ultralow detection limits for SARS-CoV-2 (74.8 pg/mL) and Flu A (68.5 pg/mL).
• Showed 100% concordance in clinical samples and real-time tracking of influenza A outbreaks in wastewater.

Conclusions:

• The iSPME-PI platform offers a sensitive, portable solution for pathogen detection.
• This technology has significant potential for infectious disease control and environmental biosurveillance.
• The platform enables real-time monitoring and early warning systems for public health threats.