Fig. 6: A membrane-less protocell array meets key criteria for a minimal equipment, field-deployable multiplexed assay.

a Schematic of colorimetric protocell array setup for simultaneous detection of multiple nucleic acid sequences. Teal, red, and blue circles indicate micro-basins containing B. theta (BT), Stx1 (S1), and Stx2 (S2) protocell sensors, respectively. Gray circles indicate empty micro-basins without CFE reactions. b Representative sensor activation and pigment production in different bulk phase conditions and at different time points. Images in the same row were taken at the same incubation time. The concentration and the type of DNA trigger(s) used are indicated above each image. Dashed circles indicate micro-basins containing protocell sensors, as shown in a. Results from three biological replicates, as well as their technical triplicates, are provided in Supplementary Fig. 16. c Protocell array functions after lyophilization. Protocells containing CFE reactions coding for sensors of bacterial nucleic acid sequences were lyophilized in micro-basins within microwells, and bulk phase solutions were lyophilized separately. Addition of sample-reconstituted bulk phase to microwells formed the protocells via liquid–liquid phase separation and revived CFE sensing reactions, leading to pigment production after 3 h of incubation at 37 °C. Three biological replicates, as well as their technical triplicates, are provided in Supplementary Fig. 17.