Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations
Abstract Quantifying bacterial cell numbers is crucial for experimental assessment and reproducibility, but the current technologies have limitations. The commonly used colony forming units (CFU) method causes a time delay in determining the actual numbers. Manual microscope counts are often error-p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-51014-2 |
| _version_ | 1827382286882963456 |
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| author | K. M. Taufiqur Rahman Nicholas C. Butzin |
| author_facet | K. M. Taufiqur Rahman Nicholas C. Butzin |
| author_sort | K. M. Taufiqur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Quantifying bacterial cell numbers is crucial for experimental assessment and reproducibility, but the current technologies have limitations. The commonly used colony forming units (CFU) method causes a time delay in determining the actual numbers. Manual microscope counts are often error-prone for submicron bacteria. Automated systems are costly, require specialized knowledge, and are erroneous when counting smaller bacteria. In this study, we took a different approach by constructing three sequential generations (G1, G2, and G3) of counter-on-chip that accurately and timely count small particles and/or bacterial cells. We employed 2-photon polymerization (2PP) fabrication technology; and optimized the printing and molding process to produce high-quality, reproducible, accurate, and efficient counters. Our straightforward and refined methodology has shown itself to be highly effective in fabricating structures, allowing for the rapid construction of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices. The G1 comprises three counting chambers with a depth of 20 µm, which showed accurate counting of 1 µm and 5 µm microbeads. G2 and G3 have eight counting chambers with depths of 20 µm and 5 µm, respectively, and can quickly and precisely count Escherichia coli cells. These systems are reusable, accurate, and easy to use (compared to CFU/ml). The G3 device can give (1) accurate bacterial counts, (2) serve as a growth chamber for bacteria, and (3) allow for live/dead bacterial cell estimates using staining kits or growth assay activities (live imaging, cell tracking, and counting). We made these devices out of necessity; we know no device on the market that encompasses all these features. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:17:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6eebb5a7fd44ce69c1b265d623ef467 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:17:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6eebb5a7fd44ce69c1b265d623ef4672024-01-14T12:20:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111410.1038/s41598-023-51014-2Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimationsK. M. Taufiqur Rahman0Nicholas C. Butzin1Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State UniversityDepartment of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State UniversityAbstract Quantifying bacterial cell numbers is crucial for experimental assessment and reproducibility, but the current technologies have limitations. The commonly used colony forming units (CFU) method causes a time delay in determining the actual numbers. Manual microscope counts are often error-prone for submicron bacteria. Automated systems are costly, require specialized knowledge, and are erroneous when counting smaller bacteria. In this study, we took a different approach by constructing three sequential generations (G1, G2, and G3) of counter-on-chip that accurately and timely count small particles and/or bacterial cells. We employed 2-photon polymerization (2PP) fabrication technology; and optimized the printing and molding process to produce high-quality, reproducible, accurate, and efficient counters. Our straightforward and refined methodology has shown itself to be highly effective in fabricating structures, allowing for the rapid construction of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices. The G1 comprises three counting chambers with a depth of 20 µm, which showed accurate counting of 1 µm and 5 µm microbeads. G2 and G3 have eight counting chambers with depths of 20 µm and 5 µm, respectively, and can quickly and precisely count Escherichia coli cells. These systems are reusable, accurate, and easy to use (compared to CFU/ml). The G3 device can give (1) accurate bacterial counts, (2) serve as a growth chamber for bacteria, and (3) allow for live/dead bacterial cell estimates using staining kits or growth assay activities (live imaging, cell tracking, and counting). We made these devices out of necessity; we know no device on the market that encompasses all these features.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-51014-2 |
| spellingShingle | K. M. Taufiqur Rahman Nicholas C. Butzin Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations Scientific Reports |
| title | Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations |
| title_full | Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations |
| title_fullStr | Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations |
| title_short | Counter-on-chip for bacterial cell quantification, growth, and live-dead estimations |
| title_sort | counter on chip for bacterial cell quantification growth and live dead estimations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-51014-2 |
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