An electrostatic microwell–based biochip for phytoplanktonic cell trapping

Abstract

A simple microwell-based microfluidic chip for microalgal cells trapping was fabricated. An electrostatic cell trapping mechanism, enabled by a positively charged glass surface, was used. The chip was capable of capturing multiple algal cell types. In the case of filamentous Spirulina platensis, we observed single filament occupancy of up to $30% available wells, as high as some previously proposed methods. Captured filaments were not of any preferential size, suggesting well randomized cell trapping. It was found that the electrostatic attraction did not affect the cell growth. Total replacement of liquid inside the wells could be achieved by pumping new solutions via the inlet, making single cell experiments in controlled chemical conditions possible. After the top layer of the chip was removed, cells in the wells could be simply transferred using a micropipette, turning the chip into a platform for strain selection. V C 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx

High-Throughput Screening of Chlorella Vulgaris Growth Kinetics inside a Droplet-Based Microfluidic Device under Irradiance and Nitrate Stress Conditions

“…Our results are different from those reported by Kim et al, [50] where on-chip results were consistent with bulk culture results for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultured in an n-hexane-compatible lab-on-a-disc under nitrogen, acetic acid, and iron depletion. Kuntanawat et al [51] studied the same growth habit of Spirulina platensis cultivated in both culturing systems. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , Chlorella vulgaris , and Dunaliella tertiolecta growth were compared in a simple droplet-based microfluidic system and bulk cultures for 10 days.…”

Transport of biomolecules to binding partners displayed on the surface of microbeads arrayed in traps in a microfluidic cell

“…The use of traps to array microbeads follows from the studies of arraying cells, or droplets containing cells (e.g., Refs. [28][29][30][31][32][33]. For capturing microbeads, the traps are typically designed to sequester a single microbead and are usually half-open, "V" shaped retaining structures which span the height of the channel and are oriented with the open part of the cavity facing the flow.…”