Perfusion Microfermentor Integrated into a Fiber Optic Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering Sensor for Fast Screening of Microbial Growth Parameters

Author(s)

Prado Soares, Marco Cesar ^[1] ; Vit, Franciele Flores ^[2] ; Suzuki, Carlos Kenichi ^[1] ; de la Torre, Lucimara Gaziola ^[2] ; Fujiwara, Eric ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Mech Engn, Lab Photon Mat & Devices, BR-13083860 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Chem Engn, Lab Adv Dev Nano & Biotechnol, BR-13083852 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SENSORS; v. 19, n. 11 JUN 1 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

This research presents a microfermentor integrated into an optical fiber sensor based on quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) to monitor and swiftly identify cellular growth kinetic parameters. The system uses a 1310 nm laser light that is guided through single-mode silica optical fibers to the interior of perfusion chambers, which are separated by polycarbonate membranes (470 nm pores) from microchannels, where a culture medium flows in a constant concentration. The system contains four layers, a superior and an inferior layer made of glass, and two intermediate poly(dimethylsiloxane) layers that contain the microchannels and the perfusion chambers, forming a reversible microfluidic device that requires only the sealing of the fibers to the inferior glass cover. The QELS autocorrelation decay rates of the optical signals were correlated to the cells counting in a microscope, and the application of this microsystem to the monitoring of alcoholic fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in the kinetic parameters of K-M = 4.1 g/L and (m) = 0.49 h(-1). These results agree with both the data reported in the literature and with the control batch test, showing that it is a reliable and efficient biological monitoring system. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/20445-8 - Development of fiber optic sensor for reflectance and light scattering monitoring for microfluidics applied to biotechnology
• Grantee: Marco César Prado Soares
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master