Cloud-enabled microscopy and droplet microfluidic platform for specific detection of Escherichia coli in water

• Published in: PloS one 2014-01, Vol.9 (1), p.e86341
• Main Authors: Golberg, Alexander, Linshiz, Gregory, Kravets, Ilia, Stawski, Nina, Hillson, Nathan J, Yarmush, Martin L, Marks, Robert S, Konry, Tania
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial; Automation; Bacteria; Beads; Biology; Chemistry; Cloud computing; Clouds; Computer programs; Custom designed; Customization; Data processing; Data retrieval; Data storage; Diagnostic systems; Drinking water; Drinking Water - microbiology; E coli; Engineering; Environmental monitoring; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Fluorescence; Fluorescence microscopy; Genomes; Identification; Image acquisition; Image processing; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging systems; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulins; Information storage and retrieval; Laboratories; Magnetics; Medicine; Microelectromechanical systems; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; Microfluidics; Microscopy; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Microspheres; Quality control; Science; Sensors; Water analysis; Water pollution; Water quality; Water Quality - standards; Water quality management; Water quality monitoring; Water sampling
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086341

We report an all-in-one platform - ScanDrop - for the rapid and specific capture, detection, and identification of bacteria in drinking water. The ScanDrop platform integrates droplet microfluidics, a portable imaging system, and cloud-based control software and data storage. The cloud-based control software and data storage enables robotic image acquisition, remote image processing, and rapid data sharing. These features form a "cloud" network for water quality monitoring. We have demonstrated the capability of ScanDrop to perform water quality monitoring via the detection of an indicator coliform bacterium, Escherichia coli, in drinking water contaminated with feces. Magnetic beads conjugated with antibodies to E. coli antigen were used to selectively capture and isolate specific bacteria from water samples. The bead-captured bacteria were co-encapsulated in pico-liter droplets with fluorescently-labeled anti-E. coli antibodies, and imaged with an automated custom designed fluorescence microscope. The entire water quality diagnostic process required 8 hours from sample collection to online-accessible results compared with 2-4 days for other currently available standard detection methods.