Single-Cell Optical Nanomotion of Candida albicans in Microwells for Rapid Antifungal Susceptibility Testing

Candida albicans is an emerging multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen representing important source of invasive disease in humans and generating high healthcare costs worldwide. The development a rapid simple antifungal susceptibility test (AFST) could limit the spread this disease, increase efficiency treatment, lower risk developing resistant strains. We developed microfluidic chip containing array microwells that were designed to trap cells perform tests using optical nanomotion detection (ONMD). Yeast cell entrapment microwell allows for very exchange growth medium with antifungal, which enables performing single-cell ONMD measurements on same before after treatment. exposure low concentration caspofungin or flucanozole induced significant decrease signal, demonstrating sensitivity technique. used quantify real-time response individual C. treatment as fast 10 min. This label-free technique be further into simple-to-use device performance AFST part routine hospital procedure also eventually world countries.