Cell phone-based fluorescent imaging sensor detects E. coli

Feb. 23, 2012
Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a cell phone-based fluorescent imaging and sensing platform that can detect E. coli in food and water.

Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (Los Angeles, CA) have developed a cell phone-based fluorescent imaging and sensing platform that can detect E. coli in food and water. Using a lightweight, small attachment to an existing cell-phone camera, they paired antibody functionalized glass capillaries with quantum dots as signal reporters to detect E. coli particles in liquid samples.

Using battery-powered, low-cost light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the researchers could excite/pump labeled E. coli particles captured on the capillary surface. There, emissions from the quantum dots could be imaged with the cell-phone camera using an additional lens inserted between the capillary and the cell phone.

The E. coli detector developed at UCLA is a lightweight, small attachment for an existing cell-phone camera that couples antibody functionalized glass capillaries with quantum dots to detect E. coli particles in liquid samples. (Image courtesy of UCLA Engineering)

The cell-phone attachment acts as a fluorescent microscope, quantifying the emitted light from each capillary after the specific capture of E. coli particles within a sample. By quantifying the fluorescent light emission from each tube, the researchers could determine the concentration of E. coli in the sample.

The work is promising for screening both water and food samples in the field, and at low cost.

The work is published in The Royal Society of Chemistry; for more information, please visit http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/an/c2an35071h.

-----

Follow us on Twitter, 'like' us on Facebook, and join our group on LinkedIn

Follow OptoIQ on your iPhone; download the free app here.

Subscribe now to BioOptics World magazine; it's free!

Sponsored Recommendations

March 31, 2025
Enhance your remote sensing capabilities with Chroma's precision-engineered optical filters, designed for applications such as environmental monitoring, geospatial mapping, and...
March 31, 2025
Designed for compatibility with a wide range of systems, Chroma's UV filters are engineered to feature high transmission, superior out-of-band blocking, steep edge transitions...
March 31, 2025
Discover strategies to balance component performance and system design, reducing development time and costs while maximizing efficiency.
March 31, 2025
Filter accessories including cubes, sliders, and rings, designed to enhance the performance and versatility of optical systems. These components ensure precise alignment and stability...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!