Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Detection Through Dieletrophoresis

Introduction

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) happen when colonies of algae grow out of control and exert toxic or harmful effects on people and marine life. Human diseases caused by HABs can be severe and, in some cases, fatal. Chlorella vulgaris is a type of green microalgae that can be found in freshwater. Chlorella is a dominant species in HABs. Various methods are available for detecting HABs, including light microscopy, flow imaging microscopy, immunoassays, and liquid chromatography. However, these techniques have several limitations, such as high costs, lengthy analysis times, the need for specialized training, and the inability to perform on-site detection. To address these challenges, we propose a novel detection approach utilizing the dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique. A critical step in developing this detection tool is characterizing the dielectric profile of Chlorella vulgaris.

Methods

Chlorella vulgaris was cultivated in Proteose medium under a 16:8-hour light cycle, positioned 18 inches from the light source. After cultivation, the cells were resuspended in a buffer solution containing 8.5 g of sucrose and 0.3 g of glucose, with conductivities adjusted to 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 μS/cm. Using 3DEP equipment, we characterized the dielectric properties of Chlorella vulgaris, including cytoplasm conductivity, cytoplasm permittivity, specific membrane conductance, and specific membrane capacitance.

Result

Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and the complete results will be presented at the conference.

Conclusion

Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and complete conclusions will be presented at the conference.