Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 28(1), 69 (2012).

Microfluidic Devices for Electrochemical Measurement of Photosynthetic Activity of Cyanobacteria Microcystis Cells
Masahiro KOIDE,*,** Tomoyuki YASUKAWA,*** Yoshiko HORIGUCHI,** Kuniaki NAGAMINE,** Hitoshi SHIKU,** Tomokazu MATSUE,** and Tomoaki ITAYAMA*
*National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–8506, Japan
**Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 6-6-11-604 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980–8579, Japan
***Graduate School of Material Science, University of Hyogo, 3-2-1 Kouto, Kamigori, Ako, Hyogo 678–1297, Japan
A microfluidic device with analytical chambers for electrochemical measurements has been employed to detect photosynthetic activity at single cell level. The flowing cells (Microcystis viridis) in a main channel are individually guided to the chamber with microelectrodes by an electrophoretic manipulation. The reduction current of oxygen was continuously monitored to determine the photosynthetic activity upon light irradiation. The average rates for oxygen generation were estimated and found to be 10−18 mol/s level.