Reagent-free optical coherence tomography platform for real-time microbial contamination detection in flowing aqueous media
OCT-based, non-contact, reagent-free monitoring platform for real-time detection of microbial contamination in flowing aqueous solutions. Enables continuous, closed-loop autonomous contamination detection by imaging individual cells in circulation without consumables. Designed for integration into solution preparation workflows and validated for cell monitoring in bioreactor-like conditions, with measurements aligned to established cell counting and viability assays.
Overview
This solution is an optical coherence tomography (OCT) based detection platform designed for in-line, non-contact, reagent-free, real-time monitoring of microbial contamination in flowing aqueous media. The technology addresses a need for rapid and accurate detection of bacteria and fungi to support product safety.
Unlike traditional contamination detection methods that require reagents, sample preparation, or off-line culturing, this platform operates continuously without consumables. It can be integrated into existing solution preparation instruments through compact flow cells, enabling a closed-loop autonomous contamination detection system. The approach reduces manual sampling burden, shortens time-to-detection, and supports quality-oriented manufacturing workflows.
Technical specifications
Core technology:
- Optical coherence tomography adapted from tissue imaging to detect individual cells in circulating media
- Novel hardware and algorithms enabling cellular-resolution imaging in flowing solutions
- Non-contact optical sensing with no reagents or consumables required
Validated performance:
- Continuous monitoring of cell size, viability, and concentration over multi-day bioreactor runs
- Measurements in close concordance with established cell counting and viability assays
- Detection capability for cells as small as 1 micrometer traveling at 5 cm per second
- Tunable detection parameters to increase monitoring speeds
- Adaptable form factor suitable for integration with clinical solution preparation instruments
Proposed benchtop test-bed configuration:
- Circulating flow cell with tubing and peristaltic pump matching current solution preparation instrument specifications
- Injection of known quantities of mixed microbial populations (fungi and bacteria) of varying size and morphology
- Parallel traditional microbial assays at intervals for validation benchmarking
- Determination of sensitivity, accuracy, and detection speed under controlled conditions
Technology readiness level
The platform has completed core hypothesis validation through a two-year Department of Defense funded collaboration with the Protein Expression Center at the California Institute for Technology. During this program, the OCT-based system was validated on HEK293 cells in shake-flask bioreactors, demonstrating continuous monitoring capability and concordance with standard assays.
The next stage of development involves a benchtop test-bed demonstration to characterize sensitivity, accuracy, and detection speed in a configuration representative of clinical solution preparation workflows. This work is intended to be guided by input from industry stakeholders to ensure the platform meets practical manufacturing requirements. The technology is positioned for pilot-scale validation and eventual integration into clinical solution production environments.
About ChromoLogic
ChromoLogic is a California-based innovation center and venture studio that develops and commercializes disruptive technologies across the medical, aerospace, and security sectors. The company operates through a multi-disciplinary approach, leveraging expertise in areas such as optics, microfluidics, biomarker discovery, and neuromorphic computing to create advanced diagnostic, sensing, and supply chain solutions. By partnering with universities and utilizing federally funded research programs, ChromoLogic incubates breakthrough technologies, evaluating their commercial potential to form spin-out ventures. Its technical capabilities include the development of point-of-care healthcare platforms, drug delivery systems, and innovative asset authentication tools, often employing biology-inspired designs to address complex scientific and engineering challenges.
These solutions are designed to address critical needs in high-risk environments, including those faced by military personnel, first responders, and industries requiring high-precision traceability and security. For customers and partners, ChromoLogic provides a pathway to modernize capabilities in fields ranging from wound care and infectious disease diagnostics to industrial asset protection and autonomous sensor systems. The organization has demonstrated its impact through projects supported by public and private sector entities, including NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. By fostering a collaborative environment that bridges basic research and commercial application, the company helps organizations enhance operational security, supply chain integrity, and health outcomes. Notably, its vTag technology for supply chain assurance has been successfully transitioned to the spin-off company Covisus Inc.
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