An Automated, High Throughput, Filter-Free Pathogen Preconcentrator

Accurate real-time waterborne pathogen detection is of paramount importance to security of U.S. military forces and installations. Fieldable high-throughput pathogen concentration is a critical analytical need for enhanced detection performance. Existing concentration methods are time-consuming, bulky, labor-intensive, power- and reagent-hungry, and consequently ill-suited for battlefield deployment and on-site investigation. To overcome these limitations, we propose to develop and demonstrate a high-throughput, filter-free preconcentrator for automated enrichment of threat pathogens in water samples. The underlying principle of our preconcentrator is to form contactless exclusion barriers to pathogens by combining cross flow features and dielectrophoresis. Our technology enables order-of-magnitude improvement in throughput, concentration factor, and recovery efficiency and significant reduction in logistical burden and operating cost. In Phase I, we will design, fabricate, characterize and demonstrate a laboratory-scale prototype to establish proof-of-principle of the proposed technology. The preconcentrator designs will be optimized using high-fidelity simulation tools, and the fabricated device will be tested and demonstrated in our well-equipped bioengineering laboratories. In Phase II, a quarter-scale preconcentrator system with additional design refinements will be developed for enhanced performance, integrability and manufacturability. The preconcentrator will be integrated with COTS technologies for automated operation. The Phase II prototype will be demonstrated for continuous, long-term concentration of threat pathogens from composite sample matrix. Design requirements for full-scale system and compatibility to various detection technologies will be identified. The final product will be fully automated and filter-free with readily deployability in research and real environments.