Development of a simple and low cost microbioreactor for high-throughput bioprocessing

A simple microbioreactor for high-throughput bioprocessing made from low cost polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubes with a working volume of 1.5 ml is described. We have developed a microfluidic system that handles a small population of cells of a model microorganism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa DS10-129. Under the conditions of the microbioreactor, the organism produced extracellular secondary metabolites by using nutrient broth modified with glycerol. Pyocyanins were isolated from the fermented medium as a metabolite of interest. Antibiotic properties of pyocyanin were effective against a number of microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Batch fermentation of the model organism in the microbioreactor was compared to shake-flask and conventional bench fermenter methods. Results obtained from the microbioreactor compared favourably with the conventional processes.