Microchip design and experiment for separation of microbe from continuous sample liquid flow using optical tweezers

It is important to separate a microorganism such as a microbe with high speed and high purity for examination of newly developed or discovered microbes. However, it is difficult and takes much time to separate a single target microbe. Here we designed a new separation chip, with which we can separate the target microbe from the sample liquid which can be supplied continuously. We integrated the laser manipulation and flow control in the microchannel for separation of the target. We fabricated a disposable separation chip by the silicone elastomer poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and succeeded in separation of a microbe within 30 seconds.