Single cell antimicrobial susceptibility testing using confined microchannels and electrokinetic loading

This study reports a single cell antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) technique using confined microchannels and electrokinetic loading. By confining individual bacteria in gas permeable microchannels with dimensions comparable to a single bacteria (~2 μm), their growth can be monitored with high resolution at the single cell level. Furthermore, AC electrokinetics is successfully demonstrated in high-conductivity culture media to facilitate dynamic loading of bacterial pathogens into the confined microchannels with over 80% loading efficiency. The single cell AST technique allows antibiotic resistance profiling to be finished in less than one hour compared to days in standard culture based techniques.