Whole-cell luminescence biosensor-based lab-on-chip integrated system for water toxicity analysis
2006
A novel water chemical toxin sensor has been successfully developed and evaluated as a working portable
laboratory prototype. This sensor relies on a disposable plastic biochip prepared with a 4x4 micro-laboratory (μLab)
chambers array of Escherichia coli reporter cells and micro-fluidic channels for liquids translocation. Each bacterial
strain has been genetically modified into a bioluminescent reporter that responds to a pre-determined class of chemical
agents. When challenged with a water sample containing a toxic chemical, the sensor responds with an increased
bioluminescent signal from the biochip that is monitored over time. The signal is received by a motorized
photomultiplier-based analyzer and interpreted by signal processing software. We have performed several levels of
analysis: (i) the change in the bioluminescent signal from the sensor bacteria serves as a rapid indication for the
presence of toxic chemicals in the water sample; (ii) the intensity of the change indicates the toxin concentration level;
and (iii) the pattern of the responses for the different members of the bacterial panel on the biochip characterizes the
biological origin of the toxin. The analyzer contains housing mechanics, electro-optics for signal acquisition, motorized
readout calibration accessories, hydro-pneumatics modules for water sample translocation into biochip micro
laboratories, electronics for overall control and communication with the host computer. This prototype has a
demonstrated sensitivity for broad classes of water-borne toxic chemicals including naladixic acid (a model genotoxic
agent), botulinum and acetylcholine esterase inhibitors. This work has initiated an investigation of a novel handheld
field-deployable Water Toxicity Analysis (WTA) device.
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