A PDMS microfluidic chip with nanostructures for bacteria concentration and fast detection

This paper presents a new PDMS micro chip with pre-concentration unit by insulated dielectrophoresis and patterned nanoporous membrane for low frequency impedance spectroscopy that has the potential to decrease the time needed to screen industrial and clinical samples for total bacterial content. This device is tested to concentrate Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 on the microwells with nanoporous membrane from a dilute sample using insulator-based dielectrophoresis (IDEP). Bacteria identification is determined by impedance spectrum of antibody modified nanoporous alumina membrane.