Turning Tears into Sweets: CandyCollect for Pediatric Salivary Pathogen Sampling

Abstract

Open microfluidic channels are gaining widespread use in biotechnology, biology, and diagnostics due to their broad applicability and user-friendly design, which enables easy addition or removal of components. Chapter 1 reviews capillary-driven open microfluidic systems and the implementation of open microfluidic channels in helping human specimen sampling. Chapter 2 introduces an improved open microfluidic system with enhanced capillary pumping capabilities. Chapter 3 describes the use of the CandyCollect device—a lollipop-inspired, open microfluidic tool for collecting salivary pathogens—in an initial human subject study. This remote, at-home study demonstrated the CandyCollect device's ability to effectively capture commensal salivary bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus, from healthy adults. Chapter 4 presents the first clinical data using CandyCollect devices to sample pediatric patients diagnosed with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis. In summary, this dissertation spans from the foundational design principles of open microfluidic systems to their practical application in enhancing human pathogen sampling.