Microfluidics at the interface of bacteria and fresh produce

Abstract

Background: Understanding interactions between bacteria and fresh produce is of practical importance in the prevention and mitigation of foodborne and plant diseases. Microfluidic approaches, which usually operate at the same scale as produce–bacteria interactions, provide a platform for understanding interactions and detecting contamination.

Scope and Approach: Here, we review microfluidic approaches suitable for use in fresh produce research and industry, classifying them based on their applications. The microfluidic devices were either used to unravel underlying mechanisms of fresh produce contamination or to develop detection tools for bacteria present on the produce. Three classes of microfluidic devices are discussed based on their common designs, as well as their applications in both fresh produce safety and sustainable production.

Key Findings and Conclusions: The three classes of microfluidic devices are: (1) micropatterned surfaces (either with natural topography or simplified topography) used in the investigation of microbial attachment, infiltration, growth, and inactivation at the surface of the produce; (2) microfluidic cultivating devices, which consist of microcavities with a controlled environment for the growth and interaction of microbes and host; and (3) biosensing devices, which are portable analytical tools for the detection of microbial presence on produce. Across these three classes of devices, we illustrate that microfluidics can help understand the interactions between bacteria and produce as well as aid in the detection of nucleic acids from contaminant microbes in a portable format. The concise review of all microfluidic approaches presented here promises to promote future research and education in this area.