Development of a simple and low cost microbioreactor for high-throughput bioprocessing.
A simple microbioreactor for high-throughput bioprocessing made from low cost polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubes with a working volume of 1.5 ml is described. We have developed a microfluidic system that handles a small population of cells of a model microorganism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa DS10-129. Under the conditions of the microbioreactor, the organism produced extracellular secondary metabolites by using nutrient broth modified with glycerol. Pyocyanins were isolated from the fermented medium as a metabolite of interest. Antibiotic properties of pyocyanin were effective against a number of microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Batch fermentation of the model organism in the microbioreactor was compared to shake-flask and conventional bench fermenter methods. Results obtained from the microbioreactor compared favourably with the conventional processes.
School of Science and Technology, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS1 3BA, UK. p.rahman@tees.ac.uk
Pattanathu K S M
PK
Rahman
Godfrey
G
Pasirayi
Vincent
V
Auger
Zulfiqur
Z
Ali
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008904:Miniaturization; D011710:Pyocyanine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006113:United Kingdom
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011710:Pyocyanine