Nanophotonic Cell Lysis and Polymerase Chain Reaction with Gravity-Driven Cell Enrichment for Rapid Detection of Pathogens

Rapid and precise detection of pathogens is a critical step in the prevention and identification of emergencies related to health and biosafety as well as the clinical management of community-acquired urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases. However, a conventional culture-based pathogen diagnostic method is time-consuming, permitting physicians to use antibiotics without ample clinical data. Here, we present a nanophotonic Light-driven Integrated cell lysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a chip with Gravity-driven cell enrichment Health Technology (LIGHT) for rapid precision detection of pathogens (<20 min). We created the LIGHT, which has the three functions of (1) selective enrichment of pathogens, (2) photothermal cell lysis, and (3) photonic PCR on a chip. We designed the gravity-driven cell enrichment via a nanoporous membrane on a chip that allows an effective bacterial enrichment of 40 000-fold from a 1 mL sample in 2 min. We established a light-driven photothermal lysis ...