Micromachines (Aug 2021)

Rapid Lipid Content Screening in <em>Neochloris oleoabundans</em> Utilizing Carbon-Based Dielectrophoresis

  • Cynthia M. Galicia-Medina,
  • Matías Vázquez-Piñón,
  • Gibran S. Alemán-Nava,
  • Roberto C. Gallo-Villanueva,
  • Sergio O. Martínez-Chapa,
  • Marc J. Madou,
  • Sergio Camacho-León,
  • Jonathan S. García-Pérez,
  • Diego A. Esquivel-Hernández,
  • Roberto Parra-Saldívar,
  • Víctor H. Pérez-González

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12091023
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 9
p. 1023

Abstract

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In this study, we carried out a heterogeneous cytoplasmic lipid content screening of Neochloris oleoabundans microalgae by dielectrophoresis (DEP), using castellated glassy carbon microelectrodes in a PDMS microchannel. For this purpose, microalgae were cultured in nitrogen-replete (N+) and nitrogen-deplete (N−) suspensions to promote low and high cytoplasmic lipid production in cells, respectively. Experiments were carried out over a wide frequency window (100 kHz–30 MHz) at a fixed amplitude of 7 VPP. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the dielectrophoretic behavior of N+ and N− cells at low frequencies (100–800 kHz), whereas a weak response was observed for mid- and high frequencies (1–30 MHz). Additionally, a finite element analysis using a 3D model was conducted to determine the dielectrophoretic trapping zones across the electrode gaps. These results suggest that low-cost glassy carbon is a reliable material for microalgae classification—between low and high cytoplasmic lipid content—through DEP, providing a fast and straightforward mechanism.

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