Open AccessThree step flow focusing enables image-based discrimination and sorting of late stage 1 Haematococcus pluvialis cells
Author(s) -
Daniel Kraus,
Andreas Kleiber,
Enrico Ehrhardt,
Matthias Leifheit,
Peter Horbert,
Matthias Urban,
Nils Gleichmann,
Günter Mayer,
Jürgen Popp,
Thomas Henkel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0249192
Subject(s) - haematococcus pluvialis , sorting , population , microfluidics , biological system , flow (mathematics) , computer science , biology , materials science , nanotechnology , physics , algorithm , mechanics , botany , carotenoid , astaxanthin , demography , sociology
Label-free and gentle separation of cell stages with desired target properties from mixed stage populations are a major research task in modern biotechnological cultivation process and optimization of micro algae. The reported microfluidic sorter system (MSS) allows the subsequent investigation of separated subpopulations. The implementation of a viability preserving MSS is shown for separation of late stage 1 Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) cells form a mixed stage population. The MSS combines a three-step flow focusing unit for aligning the cells in single file transportation mode at the center of the microfluidic channel with a pure hydrodynamic sorter structure for cell sorting. Lateral displacement of the cells into one of the two outlet channels is generated by piezo-actuated pump chambers. In-line decision making for sorting is based on a user-definable set of image features and properties. The reported MSS significantly increased the purity of target cells in the sorted population (94%) in comparison to the initial mixed stage population (19%).