Microfluidic chip with yeast cells producing lactic acid

Lab-on-a-Chip: Revolutionizing Lactic Acid Production

Theo Raines in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 3 min read.

"How microfluidics is making it easier to screen engineered strains of yeast for lactic acid production"

Biotechnology is constantly evolving, with researchers always seeking more efficient and effective ways to develop bioprocesses. One major area of focus is optimizing the production of valuable compounds like lactic acid, which has applications ranging from food to biodegradable plastics.

Traditional methods for optimizing bioproduction can be time-consuming and require significant resources. This is where microfluidics comes in. Microfluidic devices, often called "lab-on-a-chip" systems, offer a way to miniaturize and automate biological experiments.

This article explores how researchers are using microfluidic technology to streamline the screening of engineered yeast strains for improved lactic acid production. By scaling down experiments and integrating sensors, scientists can gain a better understanding of cell behavior and optimize bioprocesses more rapidly.

Why Microfluidics for Strain Screening?

Microfluidic chip with yeast cells producing lactic acid

Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool in biotechnology for several key reasons:

Miniaturization: Microfluidic devices allow researchers to perform experiments with extremely small volumes of liquids, reducing reagent consumption and waste.
Automation: These systems can automate many of the steps involved in bioprocess development, increasing efficiency and reducing the need for manual labor.
High-Throughput Screening: Microfluidic platforms can be designed to run multiple experiments simultaneously, enabling the rapid screening of many different strains or conditions.
Real-Time Monitoring: Integrated sensors can provide real-time data on key parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, and biomass, giving researchers a more detailed understanding of cell behavior.

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By addressing these critical factors, microfluidic devices provide scientists with unprecedented control and insight, accelerating the path to optimized bioprocesses. This becomes particularly valuable when dealing with complex biological systems like yeast cultivations for lactic acid production.

The Future of Bioproduction

The research discussed highlights the immense potential of microfluidics to revolutionize bioprocess development. By enabling faster, more efficient, and more data-rich experiments, these technologies are paving the way for optimized production of valuable compounds.

As microfluidic technology continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated tools for strain engineering, bioprocess control, and real-time monitoring. This will lead to more sustainable and cost-effective biomanufacturing practices.

For researchers and companies working in biotechnology, embracing microfluidics is essential to staying competitive and driving innovation in the field. The insights gained from these miniature experiments will undoubtedly shape the future of bioproduction.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.nbt.2018.05.069, Alternate LINK

Title: Novel Microfluidic And Analytical Approaches For Screening Engineered Strains: Downscaling Of S. Cerevisae Cultivations For Lactic Acid Production

Subject: Molecular Biology

Journal: New Biotechnology

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: D. Totaro, M. Rothbauer, Y.Y. Chen, M. Sauer, M. Steiger, H.Y.A. Wang, P. Ertl, D. Mattanovich

Published: 2018-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is microfluidics?

Microfluidics, often referred to as "lab-on-a-chip" systems, is a technology that miniaturizes and automates biological experiments. It involves the manipulation of fluids at the microscale, enabling scientists to perform experiments with very small volumes of liquids. This results in reduced reagent consumption, waste, and manual labor, making it a powerful tool for biotechnology.

What role does lactic acid play in this context?

Lactic acid is a valuable compound with applications in various industries, including food and biodegradable plastics. Optimizing its production is a key focus in biotechnology. Traditional methods for optimizing the bioproduction of lactic acid can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Microfluidics simplifies and accelerates the screening process for superior lactic acid-producing yeast strains.

How does microfluidics aid in strain screening?

Strain screening is the process of identifying and selecting yeast strains that produce the highest levels of lactic acid. Microfluidics plays a crucial role by enabling high-throughput screening, where multiple strains or conditions can be tested simultaneously. This accelerates the identification of superior strains, optimizing the bioprocess and ultimately increasing lactic acid production.

What are the key advantages of using microfluidics?

The advantages of using microfluidics for strain screening are numerous. Miniaturization reduces reagent consumption and waste. Automation increases efficiency and reduces manual labor. High-throughput screening allows for the rapid testing of multiple strains. Real-time monitoring provides detailed data on key parameters like pH and dissolved oxygen, allowing for a deeper understanding of cell behavior and optimization of bioprocesses.

What are the implications of this technology in bioproduction?

The implications of using microfluidics in bioproduction are significant. By enabling faster, more efficient, and data-rich experiments, microfluidic technologies are accelerating the path to optimized production of valuable compounds. This approach can lead to improved bioprocesses, more efficient resource utilization, and faster development of new products and technologies. This can revolutionize bioprocess development within the biotechnology field.