Affiliation:
1. Department of Biochemical Engineering University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
2. Algal Research Group Department of Structural and Molecular Biology University College London London WC1E 6BT UK
3. Flow Cytometry Core Facility University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health/Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children 20 Guilford Street London WC1N 1DZ UK
4. BioPhysics Group Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Institute of Healthcare Engineering UCL Department of Mechanical Engineering Torrington Place London WC1E 7JE UK
Abstract
AbstractMicroalgae are increasingly playing a significant role in many areas of research and development. Recent studies have demonstrated their ability to aid wound healing by their ability to generate oxygen, aiding the healing process. Bearing this in mind, the capability to spray/spin deposit microalgae in suspension (solution) or compartmentalize living microalgae within architectures such as fibers/scaffolds and beads, would have significance as healing mechanisms for addressing a wide range of wounds. Reconstructing microalgae‐bearing architectures as either scaffolds or beads could be generated via electric field (bio‐electrospraying and cell electrospinning) and non‐electric field (aerodynamically assisted bio‐jetting/threading) driven technologies. However, before studying the biomechanical properties of the generated living architectures, the microalgae exposed to these techniques must be interrogated from a molecular level upward first, to establish these techniques, have no negative effects brought on the processed microalgae. Therefore these studies, demonstrate the ability of both these jetting and threading technologies to directly handle living microalgae, in suspension or within a polymeric suspension, safely, and form algae‐bearing architectures such as beads and fibers/scaffolds.
Funder
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council