A microfluidic sample preparation device for pre-concentration and cell lysis using a nanoporous membrane

Pathogenic bacteria (E. coli-Ol51, Salmonella) are the main reasons for waterborne illness. Lysis of these bacteria is an important step in molecular identification of these pathogens. Electrical method has been chosen here as it is reagent free and hence more conducive automated sample preparation. We use commercially available nanoporous membranes sandwiched between two microfluidic channels to create thousands of parallel nanopore traps for bacteria and lyse them. Accumulation and lysis of bacteria on the nanoporous membrane is demonstrated by using Bacterial Viability Kit. The efficiency of the device was determined through plate counting and was 90%; at applied potential of 300 V.