Rapid biosensor for detection of antibiotic-selective growth of Escherichia coli

Electroacoustic Biosensor Systems for Evaluating Antibiotic Action on Microbial Cells

Antibiotics are widely used to treat infectious diseases. This leads to the presence of antibiotics and their metabolic products in the ecosystem, especially in aquatic environments. In many countries, the growth of pathogen resistance to antibiotics is considered a threat to national security. Therefore, methods for determining the sensitivity/resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs are important. This review discusses the mechanisms of the formation of antibacterial resistance and the various methods and sensor systems available for analyzing antibiotic effects on bacteria. Particular attention is paid to acoustic biosensors with active immobilized layers and to sensors that analyze antibiotics directly in liquids. It is shown that sensors of the second type allow analysis to be done within a short period, which is important for timely treatment.

Review of Label-Free Monitoring of Bacteria: From Challenging Practical Applications to Basic Research Perspectives

Novel biosensors already provide a fast way to detect the adhesion of whole bacteria (or parts of them), biofilm formation, and the effect of antibiotics. Moreover, the detection sensitivities of recent sensor technologies are large enough to investigate molecular-scale biological processes. Usually, these measurements can be performed in real time without using labeling. Despite these excellent capabilities summarized in the present work, the application of novel, label-free sensor technologies in basic biological research is still rare; the literature is dominated by heuristic work, mostly monitoring the presence and amount of a given analyte. The aims of this review are (i) to give an overview of the present status of label-free biosensors in bacteria monitoring, and (ii) to summarize potential novel directions with biological relevancies to initiate future development. Optical, mechanical, and electrical sensing technologies are all discussed with their detailed capabilities in bacteria monitoring. In order to review potential future applications of the outlined techniques in bacteria research, we summarize the most important kinetic processes relevant to the adhesion and survival of bacterial cells. These processes are potential targets of kinetic investigations employing modern label-free technologies in order to reveal new fundamental aspects. Resistance to antibacterials and to other antimicrobial agents, the most important biological mechanisms in bacterial adhesion and strategies to control adhesion, as well as bacteria-mammalian host cell interactions are all discussed with key relevancies to the future development and applications of biosensors.

Microbial acoustic sensor test-system based on a piezoelectric resonator with a lateral electric field for kanamycin detection in liquid

A microbial test-system for real-time determination of low/residual concentrations of kanamycin in a liquid without the need for special labels is presented. The main element of the system was a piezoelectric resonator excited by a lateral electric field based on an X-cut lithium niobate plate 0.5 mm thick with two rectangular electrodes on one side. On the other side of the resonator, there was a 1.5 ml liquid container. As a sensory element we used Escherichia coli B-878 microbial cells, which are sensitive to kanamycin. For measurement 1 ml of this cells suspension was placed in a liquid container and then the test liquid in the amount of 2 μl containing kanamycin was added. The change in the real part of the electrical impedance of the resonator before and after the test liquid addition was used as an analytical signal which indicated the presence of kanamycin. The lower limit of determination of kanamycin turned out to be 1.0 μg/ml with an analysis time of 10 min. The test-system allows to detect kanamycin in the presence of such antibiotic as ampicillin and polymixin.

Histidine Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for Screening Aminoglycosides and Nanomolar Level Detection of Streptomycin in Water, Milk, and Whey

Aminoglycoside (AMG) antibiotics are being applied to treat infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, mainly in livestock, and are prescribed only in severe cases because of their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Monitoring antibiotic residues in dairy products relies on the accessibility of portable and efficient analytical techniques. Presently, high-throughput screening techniques have been proposed to detect several antimicrobial drugs having identical structural and functional features. The L-histidine functionalized gold nanoparticles (His@AuNPs) do not form a complex with other tested antibiotic classes but show high selectivity for AMG antibiotics. We used ligand-induced aggregation of His@AuNPs as a rapid and sensitive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) assay for AMG antibiotics, producing longitudinal extinction shifts at 660 nm. Herein, we explore the practical application of His@AuNPs to detect streptomycin spiked in water, milk, and whey fraction of milk with nanomolar level sensitivity. The ability of the analytical method to recognize target analytes sensitively and rapidly is of great significance to perform monitoring, thus would certainly reassure widespread use of AMG antibiotics. The biosynthesis of hybrid organic–inorganic metal nanoparticles like His@AuNPs with desired size distribution, stability, and specific host–guest recognition proficiency, would further facilitate applications in various other fields.

Fabricating Silicon Resonators for Analysing Biological Samples

The adaptability of microscale devices allows microtechnologies to be used for a wide range of applications. Biology and medicine are among those fields that, in recent decades, have applied microtechnologies to achieve new and improved functionality. However, despite their ability to achieve assay sensitivities that rival or exceed conventional standards, silicon-based microelectromechanical systems remain underutilised for biological and biomedical applications. Although microelectromechanical resonators and actuators do not always exhibit optimal performance in liquid due to electrical double layer formation and high damping, these issues have been solved with some innovative fabrication processes or alternative experimental approaches. This paper focuses on several examples of silicon-based resonating devices with a brief look at their fundamental sensing elements and key fabrication steps, as well as current and potential biological/biomedical applications.

Multimodal real-time frequency tracking of cantilever arrays in liquid environment for biodetection: Comprehensive setup and performance analysis

We present a nanomechanical platform for real-time quantitative label-free detection of target biomolecules in a liquid environment with mass sensitivity down to few pg. Newly fabricated arrays of up to 18 cantilevers are integrated in a micromachined fluidic chamber, connected to software-controlled fluidic pumps for automated sample injections. We discuss two functionalization approaches to independently sensitize the interface of different cantilevers. A custom piezo-stack actuator and optical readout system enable the measurement of resonance frequencies up to 2 MHz. We implement a new measurement strategy based on a phase-locked loop (PLL), built via in-house developed software. The PLL allows us to track, within the same experiment, the evolution of resonance frequency over time of up to four modes for all the cantilevers in the array. With respect to the previous measurement technique, based on standard frequency sweep, the PLL enhances the estimated detection limit of the device by a factor of 7 (down to 2 pg in 5 min integration time) and the time resolution by more than threefold (below 15 s), being on par with commercial gold-standard techniques. The detection limit and noise of the new setup are investigated via Allan deviation and standard deviation analysis, considering different resonance modes and interface chemistries. As a proof-of-concept, we show the immobilization and label-free in situ detection of live bacterial cells (E. coli), demonstrating qualitative and quantitative agreement in the mechanical response of three different resonance modes.

Bacteria-based electro-optical platform for ampicillin detection in aquatic solutions

We have shown for the first time that it is possible to use a bacteria-based sensory system consisting of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida TSh-18 and an electro-optical sensor to detect ampicillin in the concentration range 0.5-600 μg/mL. Changes in the anisotropy of cell polarizability were detected at 900 and 2100 kHz; these represented the state of the cytoplasm and of the cell membrane, respectively. The changes indicate the quickest cell response to changes in the characteristics of the bacterial culture exposed to ampicillin. We have also shown that it is possible to monitor the ampicillin in the presence of kanamycin. In control experiments, we examined the effects of ampicillin and kanamycin on bacterial cells by phase-contrast microscopy and by standard microbiological tests on solid media. P. putida TSh-18 is recommended as a sensor system for ampicillin detection. Electro-optical analysis ensures detection of ampicillin in aquatic solutions in real-time, takes 10 min, and offers a lower limit of ampicillin detection of 0.5 μg/mL, which is lower than the European Community's maximum residue limit standards for penicillin antibiotics.

Dynamic Laser Speckle Imaging Meets Machine Learning to Enable Rapid Antibacterial Susceptibility Testing (DyRAST)

Rapid antibacterial susceptibility testing (RAST) methods are of significant importance in healthcare, as they can assist caregivers in timely administration of the correct treatments. Various RAST techniques have been reported for tracking bacterial phenotypes, including size, shape, motion, and redox state. However, they still require bulky and expensive instruments-which hinder their application in resource-limited environments-and/or utilize labeling reagents which can interfere with antibiotics and add to the total cost. Furthermore, the existing RAST methods do not address the potential gradual adaptation of bacteria to antibiotics, which can lead to a false diagnosis. In this work, we present a RAST approach by leveraging machine learning to analyze time-resolved dynamic laser speckle imaging (DLSI) results. DLSI captures the change in bacterial motion in response to antibiotic treatments. Our method accurately predicts the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin and gentamicin for a model strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli K-12) in 60 min, compared to 6 h using the currently FDA-approved phenotype-based RAST technique. In addition to ampicillin (a β-lactam) and gentamicin (an aminoglycoside), we studied the effect of ceftriaxone (a third-generation cephalosporin) on E. coli K-12. The machine learning algorithm was trained and validated using the overnight results of a gold standard antibacterial susceptibility testing method enabling prediction of MIC with a similarly high accuracy yet substantially faster.

Pinacho D. Personalized Medicine for Antibiotics: The Role of Nanobiosensors in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Due to the high bacterial resistance to antibiotics (AB), it has become necessary to adjust the dose aimed at personalized medicine by means of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). TDM is a fundamental tool for measuring the concentration of drugs that have a limited or highly toxic dose in different body fluids, such as blood, plasma, serum, and urine, among others. Using different techniques that allow for the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis of the drug, TDM can reduce the risks inherent in treatment. Among these techniques, nanotechnology focused on biosensors, which are relevant due to their versatility, sensitivity, specificity, and low cost. They provide results in real time, using an element for biological recognition coupled to a signal transducer. This review describes recent advances in the quantification of AB using biosensors with a focus on TDM as a fundamental aspect of personalized medicine.

A perspective view on the nanomotion detection of living organisms and its features

The insurgence of newly arising, rapidly developing health threats, such as drug-resistant bacteria and cancers, is one of the most urgent public-health issues of modern times. This menace calls for the development of sensitive and reliable diagnostic tools to monitor the response of single cells to chemical or pharmaceutical stimuli. Recently, it has been demonstrated that all living organisms oscillate at a nanometric scale and that these oscillations stop as soon as the organisms die. These nanometric scale oscillations can be detected by depositing living cells onto a micro-fabricated cantilever and by monitoring its displacements with an atomic force microscope-based electronics. Such devices, named nanomotion sensors, have been employed to determine the resistance profiles of life-threatening bacteria within minutes, to evaluate, among others, the effect of chemicals on yeast, neurons, and cancer cells. The data obtained so far demonstrate the advantages of nanomotion sensing devices in rapidly characterizing microorganism susceptibility to pharmaceutical agents. Here, we review the key aspects of this technique, presenting its major applications. and detailing its working protocols.

Inference of Bacterial Pathogen Instantaneous Population Growth Dynamics

Although bacterial host colonization is a dynamic process that requires population growth, studies often focus on comparing bacterial populations at a given time point. However, this may not reflect the dynamics of the colonization process. Time-course assays provide important insights into the dynamics of host colonization but are laborious and may still lack resolution for immediate processes affecting populations. An alternative way to address this issue, using widely accessible tools (such as quantitative PCR [qPCR]), is to take advantage of the relationship between bacterial chromosomal replication and cell division to determine population growth status at the sampling time. Conceptually, the ratio between the number of copies at the origin of replication and that at the terminus of replication should be correlated with the measured bacterial growth rate. This peak-to-trough ratio (PTR) to estimate instantaneous population growth status was tested with the slow-growing plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. We found no correlation between PTR and the measured growth rate when using genome-level data but overall sequencing depth of coverage trends matched theoretical expectations. On the other hand, the population growth status of X. fastidiosa was predicted by PTR when using qPCR data, which was improved by the pretreatment of cells with a photoreactive DNA-binding dye. Our results suggest that PTR could be used to determine X. fastidiosa growth status both in planta and in insect vectors. We expect PTR will perform better with fast-growing bacterial pathogens, potentially becoming a powerful tool for easily and quickly assessing population growth status.

Optical Biosensors for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a fundamental tool when administering drugs that have a limited dosage or high toxicity, which could endanger the lives of patients. To carry out this monitoring, one can use different biological fluids, including blood, plasma, serum, and urine, among others. The help of specialized methodologies for TDM will allow for the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic analysis of drugs and help adjust the dose before or during their administration. Techniques that are more versatile and label free for the rapid quantification of drugs employ biosensors, devices that consist of one element for biological recognition coupled to a signal transducer. Among biosensors are those of the optical biosensor type, which have been used for the quantification of different molecules of clinical interest, such as antibiotics, anticonvulsants, anti-cancer drugs, and heart failure. This review presents an overview of TDM at the global level considering various aspects and clinical applications. In addition, we review the contributions of optical biosensors to TDM.

Emerging technologies for antibiotic susceptibility testing

Superbugs such as infectious bacteria pose a great threat to humanity due to an increase in bacterial mortality leading to clinical treatment failure, lengthy hospital stay, intravenous therapy and accretion of bacteraemia. These disease-causing bacteria gain resistance to drugs over time which further complicates the treatment. Monitoring of antibiotic resistance is therefore necessary so that bacterial infectious diseases can be diagnosed rapidly. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) provides valuable information on the efficacy of antibiotic agents and their dosages for treatment against bacterial infections. In clinical laboratories, most widely used AST methods are disk diffusion, gradient diffusion, broth dilution, or commercially available semi-automated systems. Though these methods are cost-effective and accurate, they are time-consuming, labour-intensive, and require skilled manpower. Recently much attention has been on developing rapid AST techniques to avoid misuse of antibiotics and provide effective treatment. In this review, we have discussed emerging engineering AST techniques with special emphasis on phenotypic AST. These techniques include fluorescence imaging along with computational image processing, surface plasmon resonance, Raman spectra, and laser tweezer as well as micro/nanotechnology-based device such as microfluidics, microdroplets, and microchamber. The mechanical and electrical behaviour of single bacterial cell and bacterial suspension for the study of AST is also discussed.

Aptamer-based microcantilever-array biosensor for profenofos detection

Profenofos, a highly poisonous organophosphorus pesticide, has been widely used in agricultural production. These pesticide residues have seriously influenced food security and threatened human health, and new methods with high sensitivity are greatly needed to detect profenofos. Here, we developed an aptamer-based microcantilever-array sensor operated in stress mode to detect profenofos, with advantages of being a label-free, highly sensitive, one-step immobilization method capable of quantitative and real-time detection. The microcantilevers were functionalized with a profenofos-specific aptamer (SS2-55), and then the specific binding of profenofos to aptamer induced a deflection of the microcantilever, which was monitored using an optical method in a real-time manner. The microcantilever deflection showed a positive relationship with profenofos concentration, and the detection limit was low to 1.3 ng mL^-1 (3.5 nM) for profenofos, which was much lower than other aptamer-based detection methods. The selectivity of the sensor was verified with another organophosphorus pesticide. Additionally, we successfully detected profenofos dissolved in vegetable-soak solution. Our results showed that this aptamer-based microcantilever-array sensor is a convenient and label-free method for detecting profenofos in small amounts and has great potential for food-security applications.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods: agar dilution to 3D tissue-engineered models

In the field of orthopaedic surgery, bacterial invasion of implants and the resulting periprosthetic infections are a common and unresolved problem. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods help to define the optimal treatment and identify antimicrobial resistance. This review discusses proven gold-standard techniques and recently developed models for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, while also providing a future outlook. Conventional, gold-standard methods, such as broth microdilution, are still widely applied in clinical settings. Although recently developed methods based on microfluidics and microdroplets have shown advantages over conventional methods in terms of testing speed, safety and the potential to provide a deeper insight into resistance mechanisms, extensive validation is required to translate this research to clinical practice. Recent optical and mechanical methods are complex and expensive and, therefore, not immediately clinically applicable. Novel osteoblast infection and tissue models best resemble infections in vivo. However, the integration of biomaterials into these models remains challenging and they require a long tissue culture, making their rapid clinical implementation unlikely. A method applicable for both clinical and research environments is difficult to realise. With a continuous increase in antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for methods that analyse recurrent infections to identify the optimal treatment approaches. Graphical abstract Timeline of published and partly applied antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods, listed according to their underlying mechanism, complexity and application in research or clinics.

The Role of Nanomechanics in Healthcare

Nanomechanics has played a vital role in pushing our capability to detect, probe, and manipulate the biological species, such as proteins, cells, and tissues, paving way to a deeper knowledge and superior strategies for healthcare. Nanomechanical characterization techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation, nanotribology, optical tweezers, and other hybrid techniques have been utilized to understand the mechanics and kinetics of biospecies. Investigation of the mechanics of cells and tissues has provided critical information about mechanical characteristics of host body environments. This information has been utilized for developing biomimetic materials and structures for tissue engineering and artificial implants. This review summarizes nanomechanical characterization techniques and their potential applications in healthcare research. The principles and examples of label-free detection of cancers and myocardial infarction by nanomechanical cantilevers are discussed. The vital importance of nanomechanics in regenerative medicine is highlighted from the perspective of material selection and design for developing biocompatible scaffolds. This review interconnects the advancements made in fundamental materials science research and biomedical technology, and therefore provides scientific insight that is of common interest to the researchers working in different disciplines of healthcare science and technology.

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Antibiotics Detection

Widespread use of antibiotics has led to pollution of waterways, potentially creating resistance among freshwater bacterial communities. Microorganisms resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics (superbug) have dramatically increased over the last decades. The presence of antibiotics in waters, in food and beverages in both their un-metabolized and metabolized forms are of interest for humans. This is due to daily exposure in small quantities, that, when accumulated, could lead to development of drug resistance to antibiotics, or multiply the risk of allergic reaction. Conventional analytical methods used to quantify antibiotics are relatively expensive and generally require long analysis time associated with the difficulties to perform field analyses. In this context, electrochemical and optical based sensing devices are of interest, offering great potentials for a broad range of analytical applications. This review will focus on the application of magnetic nanoparticles in the design of different analytical methods, mainly sensors, used for the detection of antibiotics in different matrices (human fluids, the environmental, food and beverages samples).

Rapid Real-Time Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing with Electrical Sensing on Plastic Microchips with Printed Electrodes

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing is important for efficient and timely therapeutic decision making. Due to globally spread bacterial resistance, the efficacy of antibiotics is increasingly being impeded. Conventional antibiotic tests rely on bacterial culture, which is time-consuming and can lead to potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescription and up-front broad range of antibiotic use. There is an urgent need to develop point-of-care platform technologies to rapidly detect pathogens, identify the right antibiotics, and monitor mutations to help adjust therapy. Here, we report a biosensor for rapid (<90 min), real time, and label-free bacteria isolation from whole blood and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Target bacteria are captured on flexible plastic-based microchips with printed electrodes using antibodies (30 min), and its electrical response is monitored in the presence and absence of antibiotics over an hour of incubation time. We evaluated the microchip with Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as clinical models with ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, daptomycin, gentamicin, and methicillin antibiotics. The results are compared with the current standard methods, i.e. bacteria viability and conventional antibiogram assays. The technology presented here has the potential to provide precise and rapid bacteria screening and guidance in clinical therapies by identifying the correct antibiotics for pathogens.

Nanomechanical sensor applied to blood culture pellets: a fast approach to determine the antibiotic susceptibility against agents of bloodstream infections

OBJECTIVES

The management of bloodstream infection, a life-threatening disease, largely relies on early detection of infecting microorganisms and accurate determination of their antibiotic susceptibility to reduce both mortality and morbidity. Recently we developed a new technique based on atomic force microscopy capable of detecting movements of biologic samples at the nanoscale. Such sensor is able to monitor the response of bacteria to antibiotic's pressure, allowing a fast and versatile susceptibility test. Furthermore, rapid preparation of a bacterial pellet from a positive blood culture can improve downstream characterization of the recovered pathogen as a result of the increased bacterial concentration obtained.

METHODS

Using artificially inoculated blood cultures, we combined these two innovative procedures and validated them in double-blind experiments to determine the susceptibility and resistance of Escherichia coli strains (ATCC 25933 as susceptible and a characterized clinical isolate as resistant strain) towards a selection of antibiotics commonly used in clinical settings.

RESULTS

On the basis of the variance of the sensor movements, we were able to positively discriminate the resistant from the susceptible E. coli strains in 16 of 17 blindly investigated cases. Furthermore, we defined a variance change threshold of 60% that discriminates susceptible from resistant strains.

CONCLUSIONS

By combining the nanomotion sensor with the rapid preparation method of blood culture pellets, we obtained an innovative, rapid and relatively accurate method for antibiotic susceptibility test directly from positive blood culture bottles, without the need for bacterial subculture.

Nanocomposite biosensors for point-of-care—evaluation of food quality and safety

Nanosensors have wide applications in the food industry. Nanosensors based on quantum dots for heavy metal and organophosphate pesticides detection, and nanocomposites as indicators for shelf life of fish/meat products, have served as important tools for food quality and safety assessment. Luminescent labels consisting of NPs conjugated to aptamers have been popular for rapid detection of infectious and foodborne pathogens. Various detection technologies, including microelectromechanical systems for gas analytes, microarrays for genetically modified foods, and label-free nanosensors using nanowires, microcantilevers, and resonators are being applied extensively in the food industry. An interesting aspect of nanosensors has also been in the development of the electronic nose and electronic tongue for assessing organoleptic qualities, such as, odor and taste of food products. Real-time monitoring of food products for rapid screening, counterfeiting, and tracking has boosted ingenious, intelligent, and innovative packaging of food products. This chapter will give an overview of the contribution of nanotechnology-based biosensors in the food industry, ongoing research, technology advancements, regulatory guidelines, future challenges, and industrial outlook.

Nanotools and molecular techniques to rapidly identify and fight bacterial infections

Reducing the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the major healthcare issues of our century. In addition to the increased mortality, infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria drastically enhance the healthcare costs, mainly because of the longer duration of illness and treatment. While in the last 20years, bacterial identification has been revolutionized by the introduction of new molecular techniques, the current phenotypic techniques to determine the susceptibilities of common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria require at least two days from collection of clinical samples. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new technologies to determine rapidly drug susceptibility in bacteria and to achieve faster diagnoses. These techniques would also lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the insurgence of the resistance, greatly helping the quest for new antibacterial systems and drugs. In this review, we describe some of the tools most currently used in clinical and microbiological research to study bacteria and to address the challenge of infections. We discuss the most interesting advancements in the molecular susceptibility testing systems, with a particular focus on the many applications of the MALDI-TOF MS system. In the field of the phenotypic characterization protocols, we detail some of the most promising semi-automated commercial systems and we focus on some emerging developments in the field of nanomechanical sensors, which constitute a step towards the development of rapid and affordable point-of-care testing devices and techniques. While there is still no innovative technique that is capable of completely substituting for the conventional protocols and clinical practices, many exciting new experimental setups and tools could constitute the basis of the standard testing package of future microbiological tests.

Nanomechanical Sensors

This chapter introduces nanomechanical sensors and their applications. All molecules have “volume” and “mass.” Direct measurement of these fundamental parameters can realize label-free and real-time measurements. Nanomechanical sensors have been emerging as a key device for such label-free and real-time measurements with their multiple operation modes; static and dynamic modes for detecting volume- and mass-related features, respectively. A cantilever array sensor is a representative example among various geometries, while structural optimization can enhance the scope of nanomechanical sensors in both academic and industrial applications. One of the most advanced sensing platforms is a membrane-type surface stress sensor (MSS), which realizes both high sensitivity and compact system at the same time. The MSS is also expected to contribute to addressing nanomechanical behavior of living cells and their network.

Nanomechanical sensors for single microbial cell growth monitoring

A nanomechanical technique for rapid real time detection and monitoring of microorganism growth will significantly reduce costs and diagnosis times in industrial and clinical settings. Owing to their label free detection mechanism and unprecedented sensitivity to the mass and elastic modulus of biological structures, dynamically operated cantilever arrays provide an opportunity to rapidly detect and track the evolution of microbial growth. Here we report the monitoring of the growth of single Aspergillus niger spores via the multimode response of microcantilevers. The fungal hyphal structure affects the cantilevers' nanomechanical properties as it propagates along the sensor. We demonstrate, for the first time, the mapping of cellular events with great accuracy using a cantilever frequency response. Imaging of growth conditions on the cantilever, which is performed in parallel, allows for verification of these results. Theoretical comparison and finite element modelling confirm experimental findings and allow for determination of the hyphal elastic modulus.

Combination of fluorescence microscopy and nanomotion detection to characterize bacteria

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a major health concern in everyday clinical practice. Because their detection by conventional microbial techniques requires minimally 24 h, some of us have recently introduced a nanomechanical sensor, which can reveal motion at the nanoscale. By monitoring the fluctuations of the sensor, this technique can evidence the presence of bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics in less than 1 h. Their amplitude correlates to the metabolism of the bacteria and is a powerful tool to characterize these microorganisms at low densities. This technique is new and calls for an effort to optimize its protocol and determine its limits. Indeed, many questions remain unanswered, such as the detection limits or the correlation between the bacterial distribution on the sensor and the detection's output. In this work, we couple fluorescence microscopy to the nanomotion investigation to determine the optimal experimental protocols and to highlight the effect of the different bacterial distributions on the sensor.

Effects of antibacterial agents and drugs monitored by atomic force microscopy

Originally invented for topographic imaging, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has evolved into a multifunctional biological toolkit, enabling to measure structural and functional details of cells and molecules. Its versatility and the large scope of information it can yield make it an invaluable tool in any biologically oriented laboratory, where researchers need to perform characterizations of living samples as well as single molecules in quasi-physiological conditions and with nanoscale resolution. In the last 20 years, AFM has revolutionized the characterization of microbial cells by allowing a better understanding of their cell wall and of the mechanism of action of drugs and by becoming itself a powerful diagnostic tool to study bacteria. Indeed, AFM is much more than a high-resolution microscopy technique. It can reconstruct force maps that can be used to explore the nanomechanical properties of microorganisms and probe at the same time the morphological and mechanical modifications induced by external stimuli. Furthermore it can be used to map chemical species or specific receptors with nanometric resolution directly on the membranes of living organisms. In summary, AFM offers new capabilities and a more in-depth insight in the structure and mechanics of biological specimens with an unrivaled spatial and force resolution. Its application to the study of bacteria is extremely significant since it has already delivered important information on the metabolism of these small microorganisms and, through new and exciting technical developments, will shed more light on the real-time interaction of antimicrobial agents and bacteria.

Device for filamentous fungi growth monitoring using the multimodal frequency response of cantilevers

Filamentous fungi cause opportunistic infections in hospital patients. A fast assay to detect viable spores is of great interest. We present a device that is capable of monitoring fungi growth in real time via the dynamic operation of cantilevers in an array. The ability to detect minute frequency shifts for higher order flexural resonance modes is demonstrated using hydrogel functionalised cantilevers. The use of higher order resonance modes sees the sensor dependent mass responsivity enhanced by a factor of 13 in comparison to measurements utilizing the fundamental resonance mode only. As a proof of principle measurement, Aspergillus niger growth is monitored using the first two flexural resonance modes. The detection of single spore growth within 10 h is reported for the first time. The ability to detect and monitor the growth of single spores, within a small time frame, is advantageous in both clinical and industrial settings.

Rapid detection of bacterial resistance to antibiotics using AFM cantilevers as nanomechanical sensors

The widespread misuse of drugs has increased the number of multiresistant bacteria, and this means that tools that can rapidly detect and characterize bacterial response to antibiotics are much needed in the management of infections. Various techniques, such as the resazurin-reduction assays, the mycobacterial growth indicator tube or polymerase chain reaction-based methods, have been used to investigate bacterial metabolism and its response to drugs. However, many are relatively expensive or unable to distinguish between living and dead bacteria. Here we show that the fluctuations of highly sensitive atomic force microscope cantilevers can be used to detect low concentrations of bacteria, characterize their metabolism and quantitatively screen (within minutes) their response to antibiotics. We applied this methodology to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, showing that live bacteria produced larger cantilever fluctuations than bacteria exposed to antibiotics. Our preliminary experiments suggest that the fluctuation is associated with bacterial metabolism.

Next-generation antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most-significant health care problems of the new millennium, and the clinical microbiology laboratory plays a central role in optimizing the therapeutic management of patients with infection. This minireview explores the potential value of innovative methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of microorganisms that could provide valuable alternatives to existing methodologies in the very near future.

Examining chemical compound biodegradation at low concentrations through bacterial cell proliferation

We show proof of principle for assessing compound biodegradation at 1-2 mg C per L by measuring microbial community growth over time with direct cell counting by flow cytometry. The concept is based on the assumption that the microbial community will increase in cell number through incorporation of carbon from the added test compound into new cells in the absence of (as much as possible) other assimilable carbon. We show on pure cultures of the bacterium Pseudomonas azelaica that specific population growth can be measured with as low as 0.1 mg 2-hydroxybiphenyl per L, whereas in mixed community 1 mg 2-hydroxybiphenyl per L still supported growth. Growth was also detected with a set of fragrance compounds dosed at 1-2 mg C per L into diluted activated sludge and freshwater lake communities at starting densities of 10(4) cells per ml. Yield approximations from the observed community growth was to some extent in agreement with standard OECD biodegradation test results for all, except one of the examined compounds.

Optical tweezers reveal relationship between microstructure and nanoparticle penetration of pulmonary mucus

In this study, the mobility of nanoparticles in mucus and similar hydrogels as model systems was assessed to elucidate the link between microscopic diffusion behavior and macroscopic penetration of such gels. Differences in particle adhesion to mucus components were strongly dependent on particle coating. Particles coated with 2 kDa PEG exhibited a decreased adhesion to mucus components, whereas chitosan strongly increased the adhesion. Despite such mucoinert properties of PEG, magnetic nanoparticles of both coatings did not penetrate through native respiratory mucus, resisting high magnetic forces (even for several hours). However, model hydrogels were, indeed, penetrated by both particles in dependency of particle coating, obeying the theory of particle mobility in an external force field. Comparison of penetration data with cryogenic scanning EM images of mucus and the applied model systems suggested particularly high rigidity of the mucin scaffold and a broad pore size distribution in mucus as reasons for the observed particle immobilization. Active probing of the rigidity of mucus and model gels with optical tweezers was used in this context to confirm such properties of mucus on the microscale, thus presenting the missing link between micro- and macroscopical observations. Because of high heterogeneity in the size of the voids and pores in mucus, on small scales, particle mobility will depend on adhesive or inert properties. However, particle translocation over distances larger than a few micrometers is restricted by highly rigid structures within the mucus mesh.

Application of a new microcantilever biosensor resonating at the air-liquid interface for direct insulin detection and continuous monitoring of enzymatic reactions

Here we describe the application of a recently developed high-resolution microcantilever biosensor resonating at the air-liquid interface for the continuous detection of antigen-antibody and enzyme-substrate interactions. The cantilever at the air-liquid interface demonstrated 50% higher quality factor and a 5.7-fold increase in signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) compared with one immersed in the purified water. First, a label-free detection of a low molecular weight protein (insulin, 5.8 kDa) in physiological concentration was demonstrated. The liquid facing side of the cantilever was functionalized by coating its surface with insulin antibodies, while the opposite side was exposed to air. The meniscus membrane at the micro-slit around the cantilever sustained the liquid in the microchannel. After optimizing the process of surface functionalization, the resonance frequency shift was successfully measured for insulin solutions of 0.4, 2.0, and 6.3 ng ml(-1). To demonstrate additional application of the device for monitoring enzymatic protein degradation, the liquid facing microcantilever surface was coated with human recombinant SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and exposed to various concentrations of proteinase K solution, and the kinetics of the SOD1 digestion was continuously monitored. The results showed that it is a suitable tool for sensitive protein detection and analysis.

Discrimination of Escherichia coli strains using glycan cantilever array sensors

Carbohydrate-based sensors, that specifically detect sugar binding molecules or cells, are increasingly important in medical diagnostic and drug screening. Here we demonstrate that cantilever arrays functionalized with different mannosides allow the real-time detection of several Escherichia coli strains in solution. Cantilever deflection is thereby dependent on the bacterial strain studied and the glycan used as the sensing molecule. The cantilevers exhibit specific and reproducible deflection with a sensitivity range over four orders of magnitude.

High-resolution cantilever biosensor resonating at air-liquid in a microchannel

We have developed a highly mass-sensitive cantilever resonating at the interface of air and liquid. The cantilever is applicable as a biosensor by measuring its resonance frequency shift associated with the selective trapping of target molecules. One surface of the cantilever facing to the liquid is functionalized for label-free detection, while the opposite side is exposed to air to improve the resonance characteristics, such as the quality factor. The quality factor at resonance is 15, which is 50% higher than the same cantilever in liquid. The beam was excited through the photothermal effect of a power modulated laser and detected by laser Doppler velocimetry. Due to the proposed configuration, the signal-to-noise-ratio is 5.7 times larger than the completely submerged case. A micro-slit around the cantilever separates the air and liquid phases at a meniscus. We analyzed the cantilever motion including the meniscus membrane, and examined the effect of surface tension by applying various solutions. A slit width of 6 μm was found to give the best performance within the few prototypes. We measured the covalent immobilization of antibody molecules on a cantilever surface for three different concentrations: 20, 40, and 80 μg ml(-1). The kinetics measured by both resonance frequency shift of the cantilever and fluorescent intensity showed good agreement.

Nanoparticle induced cell magneto-rotation: monitoring morphology, stress and drug sensitivity of a suspended single cancer cell

Single cell analysis has allowed critical discoveries in drug testing, immunobiology and stem cell research. In addition, a change from two to three dimensional growth conditions radically affects cell behavior. This already resulted in new observations on gene expression and communication networks and in better predictions of cell responses to their environment. However, it is still difficult to study the size and shape of single cells that are freely suspended, where morphological changes are highly significant. Described here is a new method for quantitative real time monitoring of cell size and morphology, on single live suspended cancer cells, unconfined in three dimensions. The precision is comparable to that of the best optical microscopes, but, in contrast, there is no need for confining the cell to the imaging plane. The here first introduced cell magnetorotation (CM) method is made possible by nanoparticle induced cell magnetization. By using a rotating magnetic field, the magnetically labeled cell is actively rotated, and the rotational period is measured in real-time. A change in morphology induces a change in the rotational period of the suspended cell (e.g. when the cell gets bigger it rotates slower). The ability to monitor, in real time, cell swelling or death, at the single cell level, is demonstrated. This method could thus be used for multiplexed real time single cell morphology analysis, with implications for drug testing, drug discovery, genomics and three-dimensional culturing.

Biosensing using dynamic-mode cantilever sensors: a review

Current progress on the use of dynamic-mode cantilever sensors for biosensing applications is critically reviewed. We summarize their use in biosensing applications to date with focus given to: cantilever size (milli-, micro-, and nano-cantilevers), their geometry, and material used in fabrication. The review also addresses techniques investigated for both exciting and measuring cantilever resonance in various environments (vacuum, air, and liquid). Biological targets that have been detected to date are summarized with attention to bio-recognition chemistry, surface functionalization method, limit of detection, resonant frequency mode type, and resonant frequency measurement scheme. Applications published to date are summarized in a comprehensive table with description of the aforementioned details including comparison of sensitivities. Further, the general theory of cantilever resonance is discussed including fluid-structure interaction and its dependence on the Reynolds number for Newtonian fluids. The review covers designs with frequencies ranging from ∼1 kHz to 10 MHz and cantilever size ranging from millimeters to nanometers. We conclude by identifying areas that require further investigation.

Elucidation of flow-mediated tumour cell-induced platelet aggregation using an ultrasound standing wave trap

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Tumour cells activate and aggregate platelets [tumour cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA)] and this process plays an important role in the successful metastasis of cancer cells. To date, most studies on TCIPA have been conducted under no-flow conditions. In this study, we have investigated TCIPA in real time under flow conditions, using an ultrasound standing wave trap that allows formation and levitation of cancer cell clusters in suspension, thus mimicking the conditions generated by flowing blood.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Using 59M adenocarcinoma and HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and human platelets, cancer cell cluster-platelet aggregates were imaged in real time using epi-fluorescence microscopy (F-actin) and investigated in detail using confocal microscopy (matrix metalloproteinase-2-GPIIb/IIIa co-localization) and scanning electron and helium-ion microscopy (<1 nm resolution). The release of gelatinases from aggregates was studied using zymography.

KEY RESULTS

We found that platelet activation and aggregation takes place on the surface of cancer cells (TCIPA), leading to time-dependent disruption of cancer cell clusters. Pharmacological modulation of TCIPA revealed that EDTA, prostacyclin, o-phenanthroline and apyrase significantly down-regulated TCIPA and, in turn, delayed cell cluster disruption, However, EGTA and aspirin were ineffective. Pharmacological inhibition of TCIPA correlated with the down-regulation of platelet activation as shown by flow-cytometry assay of platelet P-selectin.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results show for the first time, that during TCIPA, platelet activation disrupts cancer cell clusters and this can contribute to metastasis. Thus, selective targeting of platelet aggregate-cancer cell clusters may be an important strategy to control metastasis.

Cantilever array sensors detect specific carbohydrate-protein interactions with picomolar sensitivity

Advances in carbohydrate sequencing technologies have revealed the tremendous complexity of the glycome. This complexity reflects the structural and chemical diversity of carbohydrates and is greater than that of proteins and oligonucleotides. The next step in understanding the biological function of carbohydrates requires the identification and quantification of carbohydrate interactions with other biomolecules, in particular, with proteins. To this end, we have developed a cantilever array biosensor with a self-assembling carbohydrate-based sensing layer that selectively and sensitively detects carbohydrate-protein binding interactions. Specifically, we examined binding of mannosides and the protein cyanovirin-N, which binds and blocks the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cyanovirin-N binding to immobilized oligomannosides on the cantilever resulted in mechanical surface stress that is transduced into a mechanical force and cantilever bending. The degree and duration of cantilever deflection correlates with the interaction's strength, and comparative binding experiments reveal molecular binding preferences. This study establishes that carbohydrate-based cantilever biosensors are a robust, label-free, and scalable means to analyze carbohydrate-protein interactions and to detect picomolar concentrations of carbohydrate-binding proteins.

Comparative advantages of mechanical biosensors

Mechanical interactions are fundamental to biology. Mechanical forces of chemical origin determine motility and adhesion on the cellular scale, and govern transport and affinity on the molecular scale. Biological sensing in the mechanical domain provides unique opportunities to measure forces, displacements and mass changes from cellular and subcellular processes. Nanomechanical systems are particularly well matched in size with molecular interactions, and provide a basis for biological probes with single-molecule sensitivity. Here we review micro- and nanoscale biosensors, with a particular focus on fast mechanical biosensing in fluid by mass- and force-based methods, and the challenges presented by non-specific interactions. We explain the general issues that will be critical to the success of any type of next-generation mechanical biosensor, such as the need to improve intrinsic device performance, fabrication reproducibility and system integration. We also discuss the need for a greater understanding of analyte-sensor interactions on the nanoscale and of stochastic processes in the sensing environment.

Microcantilever biosensors for chemicals and bioorganisms

In the last fifteen years, microcantilevers (MCLs) have been emerging as a sensitive tool for the detection of chemicals and bioorganisms. Because of their small size, lightweight, and high surface-to-volume ratio, MCL-based sensors improve our capability to detect and identify biological agents by orders of magnitude. A biosensor is a device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological component with a physicochemical detector component. The MCL biosensors have recently been reviewed in several papers. All of these papers were organized based on the sensing biological elements (antibody, enzyme, proteins, etc.) for recognition of analytes. In this review, we intend to summarize the microcantilever biosensors in a format of each specific chemical and bioorganism species to make information on individual biosensors easily accessible. We did this to aid researchers to locate relevant references.

Quantitative time-resolved measurement of membrane protein-ligand interactions using microcantilever array sensors

Membrane proteins are central to many biological processes, and the interactions between transmembrane protein receptors and their ligands are of fundamental importance in medical research. However, measuring and characterizing these interactions is challenging. Here we report that sensors based on arrays of resonating microcantilevers can measure such interactions under physiological conditions. A protein receptor--the FhuA receptor of Escherichia coli--is crystallized in liposomes, and the proteoliposomes then immobilized on the chemically activated gold-coated surface of the sensor by ink-jet spotting in a humid environment, thus keeping the receptors functional. Quantitative mass-binding measurements of the bacterial virus T5 at subpicomolar concentrations are performed. These experiments demonstrate the potential of resonating microcantilevers for the specific, label-free and time-resolved detection of membrane protein-ligand interactions in a micro-array format.

A method of measuring Escherichia coli 0157:H7 at 1 cell/mL in 1 liter sample using antibody functionalized piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever sensor

Piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors immobilized with antibody specific to Escherichia coli (EC) 0157:H7 is used to detect EC at 1 cell/mL in 1 mL and 1 L samples in a batch and flow mode, respectively. Two sensor designs were used. The first design (PEMC-a) has both the piezoelectric and non-piezoelectric layer anchored, while in the second design (PEMC-b) had only the piezoelectric layer anchored. PEMC-a, used in batch mode with 1 mL sample, showed limit of detection at 10 cells/ mL using the second bending mode at 85.5 kHz in air. PEMC-b exhibited resonant frequencies at 186.5, 883.5, and 1778.5 kHz in air and 162.5, 800.0, and 1725.5 kHz in sample flow conditions. A one-liter sample containing 1000 EC cells was introduced at 1.5, 2.5, 3, and 17 ml/min, and the change in resonant frequency was monitored. The total frequency change observed for the mode at 800 kHz and sample flow rates of 1.5, 2.5, 3, and 17 mL/min were 2230+/-11, 3069 +/-47, 4686+/-97, and 7188+/-52 Hz, respectively. Each detection experiment was confirmed by exposing the sensor to a low pH solution followed by a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) rinse, which caused the release of the attached EC. The final frequency change observed was nearly identical to the value prior to EC attachment. Kinetic analysis showed that the observed binding rate constant at 1.5, 2.5, 3 mL/min were 0.009, 0.015, and 0.021 min(-1), respectively. The significance of these results is that very low concentration of pathogens in large sample volumes can be measured in a short time period without the need for filtration or enrichment.

An antibody-sensitized microfabricated cantilever for the growth detection of Aspergillus niger spores

We demonstrate a new sensitive biosensor for detection of vital fungal spores of Aspergillus niger. The biosensor is based on silicon microfabricated cantilever arrays operated in dynamic mode. The change in resonance frequency of the sensor is a function of mass binding to the cantilever surface. For specific A. niger spore immobilization on the cantilever, each cantilever was individually coated with anti-Aspergillus niger polyclonal antibodies. We demonstrate the detection of single A. niger spores and their subsequent growth on the functionalized cantilever surface by online measurements of resonance frequency shifts. The new biosensor operating in humid air allows quantitative and qualitative detection of A. niger spores as well as detection of vital, functional spores in situ within approximately 4 h. The detection limit of the sensor is 103 CFU mL-1. Mass sensitivity of the cantilever sensor is approximately 53 pg Hz-1.

Monitoring the formation of self-assembled monolayers of alkanedithiols using a micromechanical cantilever sensor

Using a micromechanical cantilever device, the surface stress induced during the growth of alkanedithiol (HS(CH2)nSH) monolayers on gold in solution is continuously monitored and reported. Adsorption of alkanedithiols of varying chain lengths is observed and compared to each other, as well as to the adsorption of hydroxyalkanethiols (HS(CH2)nOH) and alkanethiols (HS(CH2)nCH3). The results have revealed a significant change in surface stress on the basis of the chain length of the alkanedithiol. The long-chain (n > 10) alkanedithiol adsorption imposes a tensile stress on the gold-coated surface of the cantilever rather than the compressive stress exhibited by both alkanethiols and short-chain dithiols. Our results suggest a phenomenon in which the two thiols of the alkanedithiol adsorb onto the gold surface forming a loop inducing a tensile stress on the cantilever for long chain lengths. This study shows that micromechanical cantilever sensors can be very valuable tools in the exploration and characterization of self-assembled monolayers.

Piezoresistive cantilever based nanoflow and viscosity sensor for microchannels

Microfluidic channels are microreactors with a wide range of applications, including molecular separations based upon micro/nanoscale physicochemical properties, targeting and delivery of small amount of fluids and molecules, and patterned/directed growth. Their successful applications would require a detailed understanding of phenomena associated with the microscale flow of liquids through these channels, including velocity, viscosity and miscibility. Here we demonstrate a highly sensitive piezoresistive cantilever to measure flow properties in microfluidic channels. By milling down the legs of the piezoresistive cantilevers, we have achieved significantly higher mechanical sensitivity and a smaller spring constant, as determined by AFM. These cantilevers were used in microchannels to measure the viscosity and flow rate of ethylene glycol mixtures in water over a range of concentrations, as well as of low viscosity biologically relevant buffers with different serum levels. The sensor can be used alone or can be integrated in AFM systems for multidimensional study in micro and nanochannels.

Rapid chromatic detection of bacteria by use of a new biomimetic polymer sensor

We present a new platform for visual and spectroscopic detection of bacteria. The detection scheme is based on the interaction of membrane-active compounds secreted by bacteria with agar-embedded nanoparticles comprising phospholipids and the chromatic polymer polydiacetylene (PDA). We demonstrate that PDA undergoes dramatic visible blue-to-red transformations together with an intense fluorescence emission that are induced by molecules released by multiplying bacteria. The chromatic transitions are easily identified by the naked eye and can also be recorded by conventional high-throughput screening instruments. Furthermore, the color and fluorescence changes generally occur in shorter times than the visual appearance of bacterial colonies on the agar. The chromatic technology is generic and simple, does not require identification a priori of specific bacterial recognition elements, and can be applied for detection of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. We demonstrate applications of the new platform for reporting on bacterial contaminations in foods and for screening for bacterial antibiotic resistance.