In this paper, a lab-on-chip system dedicated to fungi cultivation in Earth’s gravity and simulated microgravity, being a solution that could be used in future nanosatellite missions, is shown. For the first time, a fully glass lab-on-chip structure enabling the proper environment for cultivation of fungi species—Fusarium culmorum—is presented. Apart from the biological validation of the fungi cultures with the use of the lab-on-chip system, tests were carried out under induced microgravity utilising a Rotary Wall Vessel. Correct functioning of the lab-on-chip system was obtained, enabling the growth of fungi spores both in ground and in simulated microgravity conditions. Interestingly, culturing tests have shown that microgravity stimulates the growth of fungi notably, compared to the ground-based experimentation performed simultaneously. The findings of this study can provide substantial new knowledge on microscopic fungi cultivation in lab-on-chip devices, other soil organisms, as well as a potential behavior of these species in microgravity conditions. Culturing system shown in this work can help mycologists to provide better understanding of microscopic fungi nature and their development mechanisms at a single spore level. This opens the way towards regular usage of microfluidic tools in agriculture and horticulture fields and more importantly, in future research on microscopic fungi in space, e.g., as a part of nanosatellite missions.

No abstract

In the paper, the lab-on-chip platform applicable for the long-term cultivation of the human cancer cells, as a solution meeting the demands of the CubeSat astrobiological missions has been presented. For the first time, the selected cancer cell lines – UM-UC-3 and RT112 were cultured on-chip for up to 50 days. The investigation has been done in stationary conditions (without medium microflow) in ambient temperature, and utilizing microflow perfusion system in the incubation chamber assuring typical cultivation atmosphere (37 ºC). All the experiments were performed to imitate the conditions that are provided before the astrobiological mission starts (waiting for the rocket launch) and when the actual experiment is initialized on a CubeSat board in space microgravity. The results of the tests have shown appropriate performance of the LOC platform, especially in the context of material and technological biocompatibility. Cultured cells were characterized by adequate morphology – high attachment rate and visible signs of proliferation in each of the experimental stage. These results are a good base towards further tests of the LOC platform in both terrestrial and space conditions.