An integrated microfluidic chip device and system for microbial enrichment and detection
By integrating the filter membrane layer and laser system in the microfluidic chip device, the problems of low efficiency and insufficient sensitivity in microbial detection in microfluidic systems are solved, and efficient and accurate detection of low concentrations of microorganisms is achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN INST OF ADVANCED TECH
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing microfluidic systems have low capture efficiency in microbial detection and insufficient sensitivity for detecting low concentrations of targets.
An integrated microfluidic chip device is used, including a microchannel, a filter membrane, a laser, and a receiving component. The filter membrane covers the inner wall of the detection section, and the surface of the filter membrane is modified with biorecognition molecules. A fluorescence reaction is excited by the laser, and the fluorescence signal is evaluated by the receiving component. The filter membrane captures and enriches specific microorganisms.
It improves the sensitivity and efficiency of microbial detection, enabling accurate detection of low concentrations of microorganisms and enhancing detection accuracy and capture efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN119702096B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of microbial detection technology, and in particular to an integrated microfluidic chip device and system for microbial enrichment and detection. Background Technology
[0002] In the fields of environmental monitoring, food safety assurance, medical diagnosis, and biosafety, the rapid and accurate detection of the presence and concentration of microorganisms is crucial. Traditional microbial detection methods include culture methods, immunoassays, and molecular biology methods. While these methods are widely used, they often suffer from problems such as complex operation, long processing times, and insufficient sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, microfluidic technology has experienced rapid development in the field of microbial detection due to its high efficiency, low cost, and ability to perform high-throughput analysis.
[0003] Among related technologies, microfluidic systems can simulate laboratory operations on tiny chips, automating and integrating sample processing and analysis, significantly improving operational efficiency and detection sensitivity. In particular, combining microfluidic technology with methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical detection provides new solutions for detecting microorganisms.
[0004] However, traditional methods such as culture are typically time-consuming, requiring several days or even longer to obtain results. While immunological methods and molecular biology techniques have improved detection speed, they often require complex sample pretreatment and specialized operations, making them inefficient in rapid response and on-site detection scenarios. Furthermore, many existing microfluidic systems, despite achieving partial automation, remain limited in capture efficiency and sensitivity to low-concentration targets. These systems often fail to fully utilize the potential of microfluidic technology, particularly in continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis.
[0005] Therefore, existing microfluidic systems have low efficiency in microbial detection and capture, and insufficient sensitivity in detecting low-concentration targets. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This application provides an integrated microfluidic chip device and system for microbial enrichment and detection, in order to solve the technical problems of low microbial detection and capture efficiency and insufficient detection sensitivity for low-concentration targets in related technologies.
[0007] In a first aspect, an integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection is provided, comprising:
[0008] A microfluidic chip, comprising a microchannel, the microchannel including an inlet and an outlet, the microchannel for the flow of liquid to be detected; the microchannel including a detection section;
[0009] A filter membrane layer, which covers the inner wall of the detection section, is used to capture and screen microorganisms of a specific size;
[0010] A laser that irradiates excitation light onto the detection section to induce fluorescence in specific microorganisms within the detection section;
[0011] A receiving component is provided, and the laser is respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of the microfluidic chip. The receiving component is used to receive the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection segment to evaluate the content of microorganisms in the liquid to be tested.
[0012] In some embodiments, the surface of the filter membrane layer is modified with biometric molecules.
[0013] In some embodiments, the biorecognition molecule includes an antibody or an oligonucleotide probe.
[0014] In some embodiments, the pore size on the surface of the filter membrane layer includes 1-15 micrometers.
[0015] In some embodiments, the filter membrane layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonate, or polymethyl methacrylate.
[0016] In some embodiments, the detection segment is located within the irradiation area of the laser, and the detection segment is located within the receiving area of the receiving component;
[0017] The detection segment is configured with multiple bends or curves to increase its length.
[0018] In some embodiments, the detection segment includes multiple connected unit segments, which may include straight segments or curved segments.
[0019] In some embodiments, the detection section is arranged in an annular channel shape, and the fluid to be detected forms a backflow in the detection section.
[0020] In some embodiments, the receiving component includes a receiving objective and a receiving detector, the receiving objective being disposed between the receiving detector and the microfluidic chip, the receiving objective focusing the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection segment onto the photosensitive surface of the receiving detector.
[0021] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided in this application include:
[0022] This application provides an integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection. During detection, the liquid to be tested enters the microchannel through the inlet and exits through the outlet, allowing the liquid to flow within the microchannel. When the liquid reaches the detection section, excitation light emitted by a laser causes specific microorganisms within the detection section to fluoresce. The fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection section is received by a receiving component to assess the content of specific microorganisms in the liquid to be tested.
[0023] When the liquid to be tested flows into the detection section, the filter membrane captures specific microorganisms. As the liquid flows, the microorganisms accumulate on the filter membrane within the detection section, improving detection sensitivity. Even at low concentrations of microorganisms in the liquid, accurate detection is still possible. Furthermore, the aggregation of microorganisms before detection enhances detection efficiency.
[0024] In a second aspect, an integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection is provided, including the integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection as described above.
[0025] Another embodiment of this application provides an integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection. Since the integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection includes the aforementioned integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection, the beneficial effects of the integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection are consistent with the beneficial effects of the aforementioned integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description
[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the microfluidic chip provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0029] In the diagram: 1. Microfluidic chip; 1a. Microchannel; 1a1. Detection section; 1b. Liquid inlet; 1c. Liquid outlet; 2. Laser; 3. Receiving objective lens; 4. Receiving detector. Detailed Implementation
[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0031] This application provides an integrated microfluidic chip device and system for microbial enrichment and detection. By arranging a filter membrane layer within the detection section to capture microorganisms, it increases the microbial content within the detection section, thereby improving detection efficiency and enhancing sensitivity and accuracy at low concentrations. This application addresses the technical problems of low microbial capture efficiency and insufficient sensitivity for low-concentration targets in related technologies.
[0032] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 An integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection includes a microfluidic chip 1, a laser 2, and a receiving component. The microfluidic chip 1 includes a microchannel 1a, which has an inlet 1b and an outlet 1c, allowing the liquid to be tested to flow through it. The microchannel 1a includes a detection section 1a1, through which microorganisms in the liquid are detected. In this embodiment, the microfluidic chip 1 is made of either polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Laser 2 irradiates excitation light into detection section 1a1 to induce fluorescence in specific microorganisms within detection section 1a1. The receiving component and laser 2 are respectively positioned on the upper and lower sides of the microfluidic chip 1. The receiving component receives the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in detection section 1a1 to assess the microbial content in the liquid to be tested.
[0034] It should be noted that the wavelength of the excitation light emitted by laser 2 is different when detecting different microorganisms, so as to achieve the detection of a variety of microorganisms, as well as the detection of only specific microorganisms.
[0035] Furthermore, the integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection also includes a filter membrane layer covering the inner wall of the detection section 1a1. The filter membrane layer is used to capture and screen microorganisms of a specific size.
[0036] Specifically, the filter membrane layer is a porous filter membrane that captures microorganisms of different sizes by arranging its pore sizes.
[0037] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 When the liquid to be tested flows into detection section 1a1, the filter membrane captures specific microorganisms. As the liquid flows, the microorganisms are aggregated at the filter membrane within detection section 1a1, improving detection sensitivity. Even at low concentrations of microorganisms in the liquid, accurate detection is still possible. Furthermore, the aggregation of microorganisms before detection enhances detection efficiency.
[0038] Furthermore, the surface of the filter membrane is modified with biorecognition molecules.
[0039] This design allows the filter membrane to specifically adsorb target microorganisms, enabling the detection of specific microorganisms and improving detection accuracy. Furthermore, the filter membrane ensures that microorganisms are effectively captured as the water sample flowing through detection section 1a1 passes through it, resulting in effective microbial enrichment and increased microbial concentration, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity.
[0040] Biometric molecules include antibodies or oligonucleotide probes.
[0041] This allows the filter membrane to capture microorganisms not only through physical screening but also by enhancing the capture effect through the specific binding of biorecognition molecules to target microorganisms. Biorecognition molecules (such as antibodies, oligonucleotide probes, or other affinity molecules) are modified onto the surface of the filter membrane. These biorecognition molecules specifically recognize and bind to surface molecules (such as antigens or other markers) of target microorganisms. In this way, the filter membrane can capture specific microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella.
[0042] Furthermore, the pore size on the surface of the filter membrane layer ranges from 1 to 15 micrometers.
[0043] This setup, with filter membrane layers of appropriate pore sizes arranged according to the size of the microorganisms, facilitates the physical screening of specific microorganisms. Generally, the size of microorganisms ranges from 1 to 10 micrometers; the pore sizes on the filter membrane surface are arranged to correspond to the different sizes of microorganisms, thus achieving specific capture.
[0044] In this embodiment, the filter membrane layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polycarbonate, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Since the filter membrane layer needs to operate for extended periods in experiments, the material selection must ensure that it will not degrade or chemically react with biological or water samples, thus affecting the experimental results. Polymer materials such as PTFE, polycarbonate, or PMMA possess excellent chemical stability and mechanical strength, ensuring that the filter membrane layer remains stable for extended periods without adversely affecting the detection.
[0045] Additionally, the capture rate of microorganisms within detection section 1a1 can be improved by optimizing the flow rate of the fluid to be tested. For example, the flow rate of the liquid to be tested can be controlled to be below 50 μL / min.
[0046] The detection segment 1a1 is located within the irradiation area of the laser 2 and within the receiving area of the receiving component. That is, the detection segment 1a1 is arranged within the area where the laser 2 and the receiving component interact.
[0047] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The detection segment 1a1 is designed with multiple bends or curves to increase its length. By increasing the length of the detection segment 1a1 within a limited area, the distance the liquid to be tested travels within the detection segment 1a1 is increased, thereby improving the capture rate of microorganisms and effectively enriching them. This design is suitable for high-sensitivity, high-precision, and high-efficiency detection of low concentrations of microorganisms.
[0048] Specifically, the detection segment 1a1 includes multiple connected unit segments, which can be straight segments or curved segments. That is, the specific formation of the detection segment 1a1 is not limited; the detection segment 1a1 can be multiple straight segments, multiple curved segments, or a combination of at least one straight segment and at least one curved segment.
[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the detection section 1a1 is arranged in the shape of an annular channel, and the fluid to be detected forms a backflow in the detection section 1a1.
[0050] This configuration, through the reflux design of detection section 1a1, ensures that uncaptured microorganisms can reflow through the filter membrane layer where the capture probability is high. This design significantly improves the capture rate of low-concentration microorganisms, especially at low concentrations, where the reflux design of detection section 1a1 provides additional opportunities for effective enrichment.
[0051] The receiving component includes a receiving objective lens 3 and a receiving detector 4. The receiving objective lens 3 is positioned between the receiving detector 4 and the microfluidic chip 1. The receiving objective lens 3 focuses the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection segment 1a1 onto the photosensitive surface of the receiving detector 4. This allows for rapid and accurate assessment of the microbial content in the liquid to be tested after capturing and fluorescently labeling microorganisms using fluorescence spectroscopy.
[0052] This application provides an integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection. During detection, the liquid to be tested enters the microchannel 1a through the inlet 1b and exits through the outlet 1c, allowing the liquid to flow within the microchannel 1a. When the liquid flows to the detection section 1a1, the excitation light emitted by the laser 2 causes specific microorganisms within the detection section 1a1 to fluoresce. The fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection section 1a1 is received by a receiving component to assess the content of specific microorganisms in the liquid to be tested.
[0053] When the liquid to be tested flows into detection section 1a1, the filter membrane captures specific microorganisms. As the liquid flows, the microorganisms are aggregated at the filter membrane within detection section 1a1, improving detection sensitivity. Even at low concentrations of microorganisms in the liquid, accurate detection is still possible. Furthermore, the aggregation of microorganisms before detection enhances detection efficiency.
[0054] Another embodiment of this application provides an integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection, including the integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection as described above.
[0055] Another embodiment of this application provides an integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection. Since the integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection includes the aforementioned integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection, the beneficial effects of the integrated microfluidic chip system for microbial enrichment and detection are consistent with the beneficial effects of the aforementioned integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection, and will not be repeated here.
[0056] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0057] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0058] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.
Claims
1. An integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection, characterized in that, It includes: A microfluidic chip, comprising a microchannel, the microchannel including an inlet and an outlet, the microchannel for the flow of liquid to be detected; the microchannel including a detection section; A filter membrane layer covers the inner wall of the detection section. The pore size of the filter membrane layer is 1-15 micrometers. Microorganisms of different sizes are captured and screened by the size of the pores. A laser that irradiates excitation light onto the detection section to induce fluorescence in specific microorganisms within the detection section; A receiving component and the laser are respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of the microfluidic chip. The receiving component is used to receive the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection section to evaluate the content of microorganisms in the liquid to be tested. The detection section is arranged in an annular channel shape, and the liquid to be detected forms a backflow in the detection section.
2. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the filter membrane layer is modified with biorecognition molecules.
3. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 2, characterized in that, The biorecognition molecules include antibodies or oligonucleotide probes.
4. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter membrane layer is made of materials including polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonate, or polymethyl methacrylate.
5. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection segment is located within the irradiation area of the laser and within the receiving area of the receiving component.
6. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 5, characterized in that, The detection segment includes multiple connected unit segments, which may include straight segments or curved segments.
7. The integrated microfluidic chip device for microbial enrichment and detection according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving component includes a receiving objective and a receiving detector. The receiving objective is arranged between the receiving detector and the microfluidic chip. The receiving objective focuses the fluorescence generated by the fluorescence reaction in the detection segment onto the photosensitive surface of the receiving detector.