title: Microfluidic perfusion bioreactor for optimization of microalgal lipid productivity.
abstract: Nutrient deprivation in a batch process induces microbes to produce secondary metabolites while drastically constraining cellular growth. A microfluidic continuous perfusion system was designed and tested to culture microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, under constant nutrient concentration slightly lower than normal condition. When cultured in 7.5%/7.5% of NH4+/PO42-, C. reinhardtii showed a 2.4-fold increase in TAG production with a 3.5-fold increase in biomass compared to level obtained under an only NH4+depleted condition. The microfluidic continuous perfusion bioreactor with steady continuous nutrient flow can be used to optimize conditions for enhancing secondary metabolite production and increasing microbial biomass.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02846, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Advanced Mechanics and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: njeon@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Noo Li
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D044085:Microfluidics
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: Continuous flow; Microalgae; Microfluidic perfusion bioreactor; Nutrient gradient; Triacylglycerol