Capillary Tube Based Molecular Diagnostic Test for Naked Eye Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Abstract Antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) are a rising threat to public health. To prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance strains of bacteria, selectively prescribing antibiotics is of the utmost importance. Under infection control in hospitals, rapid and accurate diagnosis of antibiotic resistant bacteria is highly critical. This study shows a new diagnostic platform for naked‐eye detection of antibiotics resistant bacteria using a capillary tube based optical detection method. For specific detection of target ARB, DNA hydrogel formation by isothermal amplification of complementary target (DhITACT) system is incorporated with magnetic beads (MBs). To facilitate naked‐eye optical detection, a molecular probe is immobilized on the surface of MBs. After selectively capturing target to the probe, generation of long DNA strands is achieved through isothermal rolling circle amplification (RCA). Physical entanglement of amplified DNA products triggers rapid interparticle aggregation among MBs. Using this phenomenon, a capillary tube‐based naked eye detection test is developed. This system offers facile optical detection of ARB with minimal procedures to support its wide use in a clinical set‐up.