Microfermentors for the rapid screening and analysis of biochemical processes

We report on a microfermentor fabricated from glass and poly(dimethylsiloxane) using techniques of soft lithography. Aeration of the bacterial culture is through a highly permeable membrane, and dissolved oxygen is monitored with the oxygen-sensitive, fluorescent compound Ru II tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline). Biomass within the microfermentor is monitored by measuring light transmission through the medium and relating this to the optical density. We present results on the fermentation of E. coli in this system.