Research  ■

Single-cell molecular sensors (SMS)

for bio-fabrication.

Synthetic biology leverages natural microbes by re-engineering metabolic pathways to manufacture high-value chemicals. Through a design-build-test cycle, secretory phenotypes can be selectively enriched within a mutant library, enabling directed evolution for biofabrication. Immunosorbent assays offer a flexible approach for analyzing a wide range of chemical compounds, including proteins and small molecules, to characterize secretory phenotypes. However, their throughput remains limited. Microfluidic droplet technology has recently emerged as a promising tool for high-throughput single-cell secretory screening. However, current droplet-based systems face significant limitations, including: (1) restricted versatility, and (2) relatively low throughput (~1–100 cells per second). In this project, we developed a novel microfluidic single-cell molecular sensor capable of analyzing diverse metabolic compounds—including proteins and small molecules—produced by secreted strains with high sensitivity and ultra-high throughput (~10^4 cells per second). This technology offers unique advantages, including exceptional flexibility in measuring valuable chemicals and rapid identification of critical microbial strains, driving advancements in biofabrication.