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An integrated continuous-flow microfluidic sensor for long-term monitoring of microalgae growth in a tubular photobioreactor.

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Title: An integrated continuous-flow microfluidic sensor for long-term monitoring of microalgae growth in a tubular photobioreactor.
Authors: Rahul, R.1,2 (AUTHOR), Prasad, Nikhil1,2 (AUTHOR), Mini, R. S.2 (AUTHOR) ranjith@cet.ac.in, Ranjith, S. Kumar2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Lab on a Chip. 11/21/2025, Vol. 25 Issue 22, p5828-5844. 17p.
Subjects: Spirulina, Photobioreactors, Algal growth, Cell populations, Photomicrography, Microfluidics
Abstract: Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a valuable cyanobacterium used for various applications, including health supplements, cosmetics, biofertilizers, carbon capture, and biofuels. Efficient monitoring of microalgae growth in photobioreactors is crucial for optimizing yields in large-scale culturing. Existing monitoring systems take samples from the bioreactor at different intervals and perform the visualization and quantification of algae growth parameters. In this work, a microfluidic platform is mounted on a tubular photobioreactor, and the system continuously monitors the growth behavior of Spirulina over several days, with algal development captured on demand. Furthermore, the microfluidic sensor is fabricated using a novel xurography-based approach on photopolymer sheets. It captures real-time micrographs of algae continuously for 5 days (over 120 hours) under two different conditions: open-loop and closed-loop. In the open-loop configuration, the sensor hydrostatically taps the algal medium from the bioreactor at regular intervals. In contrast, the closed-loop sensor continuously (24/7) circulates the culture medium through the microchip for visualization without the use of any driving mechanism. From the micrographs, algal cell density, cell count, and trichome length are estimated continuously, and all parameters exhibited an increasing trend over time. Importantly, the cell density obtained from the microfluidic sensor closely matches with the conventional benchmark glass slide method, with an error of less than 3.3%. The microfluidic monitoring platform is found to be low-cost, accurate, fast, and efficient compared to existing systems, and moreover, it is easily amenable to automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Lab on a Chip is the property of Royal Society of Chemistry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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An: 189090475
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  Data: An integrated continuous-flow microfluidic sensor for long-term monitoring of microalgae growth in a tubular photobioreactor.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rahul%2C+R%2E%22">Rahul, R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Prasad%2C+Nikhil%22">Prasad, Nikhil</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mini%2C+R%2E+S%2E%22">Mini, R. S.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ranjith@cet.ac.in</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ranjith%2C+S%2E+Kumar%22">Ranjith, S. Kumar</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Lab+on+a+Chip%22">Lab on a Chip</searchLink>. 11/21/2025, Vol. 25 Issue 22, p5828-5844. 17p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spirulina%22">Spirulina</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Photobioreactors%22">Photobioreactors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Algal+growth%22">Algal growth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cell+populations%22">Cell populations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Photomicrography%22">Photomicrography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microfluidics%22">Microfluidics</searchLink>
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  Data: Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a valuable cyanobacterium used for various applications, including health supplements, cosmetics, biofertilizers, carbon capture, and biofuels. Efficient monitoring of microalgae growth in photobioreactors is crucial for optimizing yields in large-scale culturing. Existing monitoring systems take samples from the bioreactor at different intervals and perform the visualization and quantification of algae growth parameters. In this work, a microfluidic platform is mounted on a tubular photobioreactor, and the system continuously monitors the growth behavior of Spirulina over several days, with algal development captured on demand. Furthermore, the microfluidic sensor is fabricated using a novel xurography-based approach on photopolymer sheets. It captures real-time micrographs of algae continuously for 5 days (over 120 hours) under two different conditions: open-loop and closed-loop. In the open-loop configuration, the sensor hydrostatically taps the algal medium from the bioreactor at regular intervals. In contrast, the closed-loop sensor continuously (24/7) circulates the culture medium through the microchip for visualization without the use of any driving mechanism. From the micrographs, algal cell density, cell count, and trichome length are estimated continuously, and all parameters exhibited an increasing trend over time. Importantly, the cell density obtained from the microfluidic sensor closely matches with the conventional benchmark glass slide method, with an error of less than 3.3%. The microfluidic monitoring platform is found to be low-cost, accurate, fast, and efficient compared to existing systems, and moreover, it is easily amenable to automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Lab on a Chip is the property of Royal Society of Chemistry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1039/d5lc00546a
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Algal growth
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      – SubjectFull: Cell populations
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      – SubjectFull: Photomicrography
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      – TitleFull: An integrated continuous-flow microfluidic sensor for long-term monitoring of microalgae growth in a tubular photobioreactor.
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              Text: 11/21/2025
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              Y: 2025
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