Label-free processing of microalgal biomass for high-throughput bioprocess development using external fields and microfluidics

<ns3:p> Microalgal biotechnology has the potential to provide carbon-neutral and even carbon-negative solutions for a plethora of applications, including human nutrition, animal feed bioactive ingredients, and CO <ns3:sub>2</ns3:sub> capture. However, current technologies are unable to compete with classic approaches because of their high investment and operational costs as well as technical challenges, especially when dealing with multiproduct biorefinery models. Developing and optimizing these novel bioprocess technologies is extremely resource-intensive because of expensive infrastructure, lack of automation, and reduced data acquisition and processing. Microfluidic platforms can deal with individual cells and components, allowing their precise manipulation, transformation, and separation, particularly in external fields such as electric, magnetic, electromagnetic (e.g., light), and acoustic fields. External fields, in conjunction with microfluidics, could provide an all-in-one chip solution for the production, extraction, and purification of high-value microalgal components for enhanced process development, including monitoring and control. Recent breakthroughs in the fabrication technologies of these microfluidic chips, as well as their modular nature, allow for scale-outs to suit anything from vast industrial applications to smaller-scale research and development purposes, bringing us to the brink of achieving the full potential of microalgal biotechnology foreseen decades ago. </ns3:p>