Multimodal Microfluidic Sensor for Harmful Bacteria Detection

Researchers at Tianjin University have developed a revolutionary microfluidic sensor that integrates nanozyme catalysis, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and photothermal sterilization to detect and inactivate hazardous bacterial contaminants in complex environmental and industrial settings. This innovative platform exhibits robust glucose oxidase (GOx)-like and peroxidase (HRP)-like activities, facilitating quantitative bacterial analysis and species identification.

Key Takeaways:

• The microfluidic chip integrates nanozyme cascade colorimetric reactions, SERS, and photothermal sterilization for multimodal bacterial detection and decontamination.
• The platform exhibits robust GOx-like and HRP-like activities, facilitating quantitative bacterial analysis and species identification through enzyme cascade reactions and SERS.
• The detection limit for both Brucella melitensis and Bacillus cereus is as low as 10 CFU/mL, with a strong correlation (R = 0.988) to standard plate counting.
• The platform demonstrates high photothermal conversion efficiency (45.2%), resulting in an inactivation rate exceeding 98% under near-infrared irradiation.
• The microfluidic chip is reusable and exhibits high detection accuracy, making it a promising tool for monitoring bacterial hazards in contaminated water, industrial waste, and biothreat scenarios.
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A (2025;345:126809).
• The platform's innovative design and functionality offer a novel approach to biosafety and hazardous material management.

Statistics:

• Detection limit: 10 CFU/mL for both Brucella melitensis and Bacillus cereus.
• Correlation coefficient (R): 0.988 to standard plate counting.
• Photothermal conversion efficiency: 45.2%.
• Inactivation rate: 98% under near-infrared irradiation.
• Reusability: demonstrated by the platform.
• Detection accuracy: high accuracy achieved through enzyme cascade reactions and SERS.

Sources:

• "Multimodal microfluidic sensor for harmful bacteria detection: Integrating nanozyme catalysis, SERS, and photothermal sterilization. Spectrochimica Acta Part A, 2025;345:126809.
• Tianjin University (School of Chemical Engineering and Technology)
• Guozhao Liu, corresponding author
• Guanwen Su, Jie Zhang, Hongyu Wang, Hongyuan Wei, and Zhanzhong Wang, co-authors
• Spectrochimica Acta Part A, publisher contact: Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England.