Development of a Microfludic Immunological Assay for the Detection and Identification of Staphyloccous Aureus Enterotoxin in Food Samples

Abstract

This study describes the development and testing of a microfluidic immunological assay that combines lateral flow assay and microfluidic paper-based analytical device designs for the purpose of detecting and identifying enterotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus in contaminated foodstuffs. Initial design research was done using BSA and anti-BSA to mimic the actual target antibody/antigens. The final assay design will use culture supernatant from enterotoxin-producing S. aureus as antigen and commercially produced antibodies, with antigen-antibody binding detected by a fluorophore- or gold nanoparticle-labeled secondary antibody. We described the stepwise optimization of antigen binding, antibody flow, and complex detection in a microfluidic system.