Phages modified hydrogel pellet assembled in 3D printed both-in-one device for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on colorimetric and pressure readout modes.

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) with noticeable drug-resistance profile is one of the most pernicious pathogens that attracts major public health concerns. Herein, a 3D printed device combined with hydrogel pellet modified with phages was designed for point-of-care testing (POCT) of this pathogen with both colorimetric and pressure readout modes. A P. aeruginosa phage belonging to the family of Podoviridae was isolated from river water and noted as vB_PaeP-JZ1 (JZ1). Due to its host specificity, phage JZ1 was used as a recognizing agent for modifying the hydrogel pellet, and the modified hydrogel pellet was assembled into the 3D printed device to act as the sensing interface. Polymyxin B (PMB) was tagged with Pd@Pt core-shell nanodendrites (Pd@PtNDs) showing excellent peroxidase-like activity to act as the colorimetric and pressure signal tracer. P. aeruginosa can be quantified within the concentration ranges of 2.6 × 103 cfu mL-1 - 2.6 × 108 cfu mL-1 and 2.6 × 102 cfu mL-1 - 2.6 × 107 cfu mL-1 with colorimetric and pressure readout modes, respectively. The both modes can achieve quantitation of P. aeruginosa within 25 min. Thus the "both-in-one" 3D printed device with dual-mode readout function offers a rapid, sensitive, and specific platform for POCT of pathogenic bacteria.