CandyCollect open-to-closed (O2C) microfluidic system for rapid and user-centric detection of group A Streptococcus
2
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14730197
eISSN
14730189
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105018750487
Pubmed ID
41055313
Journal Title
Lab on A Chip
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Lab on A Chip (2025)
Suggested Citation
Leong K.M., Sanchez J.C., Craig C., Tatka J.A., Arvizu R.R., Robertson I.H., Shinkawa V.A.M., Robinson T.R., Chang M.M., Su X., Thongpang S., Theberge A.B., Berthier E., Olanrewaju A.O. CandyCollect open-to-closed (O2C) microfluidic system for rapid and user-centric detection of group A Streptococcus. Lab on A Chip (2025). doi:10.1039/d5lc00253b Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112716
Title
CandyCollect open-to-closed (O2C) microfluidic system for rapid and user-centric detection of group A Streptococcus
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
We created CandyCollect, a lollipop-inspired, child-friendly saliva sampling device that provides enhanced comfort compared to common throat and mouth swabs. The device has an open microchannel and a functionalized surface that effectively captures and stores the saliva and pathogens. We recently demonstrated the ability to combine the CandyCollect with rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) for fast and accessible detection of group A Streptococcus (GAS). However, the current procedure necessitates manual steps to elute and transfer captured antigens from the lollipop to RADTs, which relies on the user to follow complex instructions, increasing the likelihood of error. In this work, we developed the CandyCollect open-to-closed (O2C) microfluidic system to automate antigen elution and streamline detection with RADTs. The O2C system securely seals the open microchannels of the CandyCollect device to create a continuous closed channel for seamless delivery of elution reagents to release antigens at the press of a button for subsequent lateral flow detection. Our system leverages and combines the unique benefits of both open channel and closed channel microfluidics into one platform, further enhancing the potential of both methods. We performed experiments with GAS bacteria spiked into saliva and compared the manual and O2C elution methods. Both the manual and O2C methods showed clear test lines on the RADT strips at clinically relevant GAS concentrations (between 5 × 10<sup>5</sup> and 10<sup>9</sup> CFU mL<sup>−1</sup>). The O2C provided comparable results to the manual procedure in a more convenient form factor. The O2C platform has the potential to enable user-friendly screening for respiratory pathogens by minimally trained users in decentralized settings.