Issue 3, 2012

Enrichment of viable bacteria in a micro-volume by free-flow electrophoresis

Abstract

Macro- to micro-volume concentration of viable bacteria is performed in a microfluidic chip. The enrichment principle is based on free flow electrophoresis and is demonstrated for Gram positive bacteria. Bacteria from a suspension flow are trapped on a gel interface that separates the trapping location from integrated actuation electrodes in order to enable non-destructive trapping. The microfluidic chip contains integrated electrolytic gas expulsion structures and phaseguides for gel and liquid handling. Trapping efficiency is systematically optimized to reach 25 times the initial concentration from a theoretical maximum of 30. Finally, enrichment from analytically relevant concentrations down to 3 × 102 colony forming units per millilitre is demonstrated with a trapping efficiency of 80% which represents the most important parameter in enrichment.

Graphical abstract: Enrichment of viable bacteria in a micro-volume by free-flow electrophoresis

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Jun 2011
Accepted
14 Sep 2011
First published
18 Oct 2011

Lab Chip, 2012,12, 451-457

Enrichment of viable bacteria in a micro-volume by free-flow electrophoresis

S. Podszun, P. Vulto, H. Heinz, S. Hakenberg, C. Hermann, T. Hankemeier and G. A. Urban, Lab Chip, 2012, 12, 451 DOI: 10.1039/C1LC20575G

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