Laser induced disruption of bacterial spores on a microchip

We report on the development of a laser based spore disruption method. Bacillus globigii spores were mixed with a laser light absorbing matrix and co-crystallized into 200-mm-wide and 20-mm-deep nanovials formed in a polydimethylsiloxane ( PDMS) target plate. Surface tension effects were exploited to effect up to 125-fold spore enrichment. When the target zones were illuminated at atmospheric pressure with pulsed UV-laser light at fluences below 20 mJ cm(-2) a change in spore morphology was observed within seconds. Post illumination PCR analysis suggests the release of endogenous DNA indicative of spore disruption. For laser fluences above 20 mJ cm 22, desorption of spores and fragments was also observed even without a matrix being employed. Desorbed material was collected in a PDMS flowcell attached to the target plate during laser illumination. This opens up a route towards the direct extraction of released DNA in an integrated spore disruption - PCR amplification microchip device.