Technology Summary

This technology relates to an adaptable microfluidic system for rapid pathogen classification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing at the single-cell level. By incorporating tunable microfluidic valves and real-time optical detection, bacteria can be trapped and classified based on their physical shape and size. By monitoring their growth in the presence of antibiotics at the single cell level, antimicrobial susceptibility of the bacteria can be determined in as little as 30 minutes. The figure above shows: (A) a schematic of the microfluidic device, showing bacterial pathogens loaded into the channels by capillary action; (B) cross-section profiles of a channel under different pneumatic pressures trapping bacteria in different regions of the channel; and (C) antimicrobial susceptibility determined by monitoring phenotypic growth of the bacteria in the presence of antibiotics.