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DC-Dielectrophoretic Manipulation and Isolation of Microplastic Particle-Treated Microalgae Cells in
Tianbo Gao1, Kai Zhao1, Jiaqi Zhang2
1Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Department of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
Micromachines
|January 21, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel direct-current dielectrophoretic (DC-DEP) method for isolating microplastic-treated microalgae cells. The technique successfully separates microalgae based on their dielectric properties and microplastic particle adsorption.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Cell Separation
Background:
- Microalgae are increasingly used in various biotechnological applications.
- Microplastic contamination poses a challenge for microalgae cultivation and analysis.
- Efficient methods are needed to isolate and purify microalgae cells from contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a direct-current dielectrophoretic (DC-DEP) method for microalgae cell manipulation.
- To investigate the influence of microplastic particle (MP) adsorption on microalgae dielectric properties and behavior.
- To achieve selective separation and isolation of microalgae cells in a microfluidic chip.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microfluidic chip with asymmetric orifices to generate a non-homogeneous electric field.
- Applied direct-current (DC) voltages to induce dielectrophoretic forces on microalgae cells.
- Numerically investigated the effects of voltage, MP coverage, and thickness on cell migration and trajectory.
- Demonstrated separation of microalgae based on MP adsorption characteristics.
Main Results:
- The DC-DEP method effectively manipulated microalgae cells based on their dielectric properties.
- Microplastic particle adsorption significantly affected microalgae trajectory shifts.
- The thickness of polystyrene (PS) particle adsorption had a negligible effect on DC-DEP behavior but influenced trajectory.
- Successful separation of different sizes of microalgae and isolation of cells with varying MP coverages was achieved.
Conclusions:
- The proposed DC-DEP method offers a promising approach for microalgae cell isolation and purification.
- This technique can effectively remove undesired cells, such as those contaminated with microplastics.
- The study provides a foundation for advanced microalgae separation and analysis in microfluidic systems.
