Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Sensor Based on Ball-Lensed Optical Fibers
Byungjun Park,
Bonhan Koo,
Jisub Kim,
Kiri Lee,
Hyeonjin Bang,
Sung-Han Kim,
Kyung Young Jhang,
Yong Shin,
Seungrag Lee
Affiliations
Byungjun Park
Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyung-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea
Bonhan Koo
Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympicro-43gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Korea
Jisub Kim
Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyung-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea
Kiri Lee
Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyung-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea
Hyeonjin Bang
Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyung-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea
Sung-Han Kim
Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympicro-43gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Korea
Kyung Young Jhang
School of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea
Yong Shin
Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei Ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
Seungrag Lee
Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyung-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea
Given the fatal health conditions caused by emerging infectious pathogens, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, their rapid diagnosis is required for preventing secondary infections and guiding correct treatments. Although various molecular diagnostic methods based on nucleic acid amplification have been suggested as gold standards for identifying different species, these methods are not suitable for the rapid diagnosis of pathogens owing to their long result acquisition times and complexity. In this study, we developed a rapid bio-optical sensor that uses a ball-lensed optical fiber (BLOF) probe and an automatic analysis platform to precisely diagnose infectious pathogens. The BLOF probe is easy to align and has a high optical sensing sensitivity (1.5-fold) and a large detection range (1.2-fold) for an automatic optical sensing system. Automatic signal processing of up to 250 copies/reaction of DNA of Q-fever-causing Coxiella burnetii was achieved within 8 min. The clinical utility of this system was demonstrated with 18 clinical specimens (9 Q-fever and 9 other febrile disease samples) by measuring the resonant wavelength shift of positive or negative samples for Coxiella burnetii DNA. The results from the system revealed the stable and automatic optical signal measurement of DNA with 100% accuracy. We envision that this BLOF probe-based sensor would be a practical tool for the rapid, simple, and sensitive diagnosis of emerging infectious pathogens.