A microfluidic-based assay for rapid and multiplexed detection of toxins in water samples

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Cyanobacteria are gram-negative bacteria that produce toxins such as hepatotoxins and neurotoxins. These toxins have the potential to cause a wide range of adverse human health. Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN) are considered the most dangerous toxins as they are potential hepatotoxin, neurotoxin, and tumor promoter and can significantly harm animal and human health. Unfortunately, the traditional techniques for MC-LR and CYN detection are expensive and time-consuming and also suffer from low sensitivity and lack of specificity. Blue Lion Labs is a Waterloo-based spin-off that develops artificial intelligence (AI)-based software to identify cyanobacteria and other harmful organisms in the water samples. Blue Lion Labs currently can determine the types of harmful organisms in water samples but cannot identify or quantify the toxins produced by those organisms, which is critical to aquaculture and drinking water operations. To address this problem, in the proposed project, Blue Lion Labs partners with the Poudineh Lab at the University of Waterloo to develop a low-cost and rapid prototype, called Toxin-Chip, for sensitive and multiple detection of MC-LR and CYN in water samples. The Toxin-Chip integrates an immunobead-based assay into a specially designed microfluidic device to achieve detection of toxins. The device platform combines three modules: a chaotic mixing module, a sorting module, and collection chambers. In collaboration with Blue Lion Labs, an AI software will be also developed for the analysis of data derived from the Toxin-Chip.The Toxin-Chip will have a significant impact: It enables rapid toxin detection in natural water bodies and drinking water while preventing human health issues and contributing to a more sustainable food source.