A nanoscale electronic hanging-bed for bacteria

This project aims at developing a novel dual-functional sensor to simultaneously monitor the metabolism and motion of bacteria upon different antibiotic treatments. The sensor is an electronic handing-bed in form of a suspended silicon nanowire (SiNW) net for bacteria.

It monitors, via field effects, the bacterial metabolism by measuring the metabolism-induced acidification in the growth media. It detects, via piezoresistive effects, the motion of bacteria. Its micrometer-size footprint will enable the analysis of extremely small volume and even a single cell. Sensor arrays can be integrated with high throughput cell collecting microfluidics to perform multiplexed analysis.

Hence, the sensor is expected to cost-effectively: a) achieve rapid antibiotic susceptibility tests, targeting a sample-to-results time within 40 minutes for urinary tract infections in our demonstration; b) analyze the heterogeneity in bacterial populations treated with antibiotics; c) investigate the relationship between bacterial metabolism and antibiotic susceptibility.

The success of project will greatly advance the art of infection treatments.

It can also improve our understanding of the interplay between bacterial metabolism and antibiotic susceptibility, which will in turn facilitate the development of novel strategies to treat resistant bacteria with metabolic interventions. The project is divided into 3 well defined and interrelated Tasks.

A new PhD student will be recruited to the project.