A Specific and Sensitive Aptamer-Based Digital PCR Chip for Detection.

Food poisoning and infectious diseases caused by () are serious public health concerns for human health and food safety. The diversity and complexity of food matrices pose great challenges for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of in food samples. A method capable of identification, detection, and quantification of is essential for addressing these issues. In this study, aptamer-coated magnetic beads (Apt-MBs) are employed as capture bio-probes to specifically and selectively concentrate in food samples. A self-priming chip-based digital PCR was then presented as another biosensor for on-site detection and quantification of cells. The chip we developed was robust and did not require any external power for sample loading. The combination of Apt-MBs with an on-chip digital detection realized the integration into lab-on-a-chip-based biosensors for on-site monitoring of foodborne pathogens. It was possible to capture and detect cells as low as 90 CFU/reaction with a capture efficiency of 94.5%. Additionally, the whole process only took about 2 h. This unique platform could also be used to monitor other target bacteria with high specificity and sensitivity by utilizing different aptamers. Furthermore, the platform has potential applications in point-of-care testing in the future.