Microbioreactors for nutrient-controlled microbial cultures: Bridging the gap between bioprocess development and...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Microbial Physiology

Background:

• Industrial bioprocess development relies on selecting high-performing microbial mutants.
• Current screening methods often use uncontrolled batch conditions, which do not reflect industrial nutrient-controlled environments.
• A gap exists between bioprocess development and industrial scale-up due to limitations in screening tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the state-of-the-art microbioreactor technologies for screening microorganisms.
• To highlight platforms offering dynamic control over cultivation conditions.
• To discuss the potential of nutrient-fed microbioreactors in biotechnology.

Main Methods:

• Classification of microbioreactors into three categories: microtiter plate-based, microfluidic chamber-based, and microfluidic droplet-based platforms.
• Review of existing literature and technologies in microbioreactor design and application.
• Analysis of the capabilities of microbioreactors for dynamic condition control.

Main Results:

• Microbioreactors offer high throughput and dynamic control over cultivation conditions, addressing limitations of traditional screening methods.
• Identified three main classes of microbioreactor platforms: microtiter plate, microfluidic chamber, and microfluidic droplet systems.
• These platforms facilitate the selection of microorganisms that perform optimally under industrially relevant, controlled conditions.

Conclusions:

• Microbioreactors are crucial tools for bridging the gap between bioprocess development and industrial scale-up.
• Nutrient-fed microbioreactors present significant opportunities for advancing biotechnology by enabling precise control over microbial growth and product expression.
• The reviewed platforms provide a foundation for developing more efficient and effective bioprocesses.