Bengaluru: A research team from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) have developed modular devices, independent to grow microorganisms, which can enable scientists to conduct biological experiments in space.
In a study published in ASTA Astronutica, the team has shown how devices can be used to activate and track bacterial growth called Sporosarcarina Pasteurii for several days with minimal human involvement.
“Understanding how such microbes behaves in extreme environments can provide valuable insights for the mission of human spaces such as ‘migrants’, the Indian first crew spaceship will be launched in 2022,” IISC said in a statement with TII.
Shows that in recent years, scientists have increasingly explored the use of lab-on-chip platforms – which combine many analyzes into an integrated chip – for these experiments, IISC, said that there are additional challenges to design the platform for outside space, when compared with lab.
Senior research writer, Koushik Viswanathan, an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, IISC, said: “It must be fully independent.
In addition, you cannot just expect the same operating conditions as you do in a normal laboratory settings …
and you Cannot have something that sued 500W, for example.
“New devices use a combination of LEDs and fotodiodiode sensors to track bacterial growth by measuring optical density or light scattering, similar to the spectrophotometer used in the lab.
It also has a separate compartment for different experiments.
And IISC says that each compartment or ‘tape’ consists of space where bacteria – suspended as spores in Sukrose solution – and nutritional media can be mixed to kick growth, by flicking the switch remotely.
“Data from each cassette is collected and stored independently.
Three cassettes are beaten into one cartridge, which consumes only under the power of 1W.
The researchers imagine that the full charge that can enter the spaceship will contain four cartridges that are capable of 12 independent experiments , “added the statement.
The team must also ensure that the device leaks and is not affected by any orientation changes.
Aloke Kumar, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, IISC, and other senior writers from this study showed: “This is a non-traditional environment for bacteria to grow.
It’s really sealed and has a very small volume.
We have to see if we are Will get consistent results (growth) in this smaller volume.
We also have to ensure that LEDs are ongoing and dead do not produce a lot of heat, which can change the characteristics of bacterial growth.
“Using an electron microscope, the researchers can confirm that spores grow and multiplied by rod-shaped bacteria in the device, because they will have normal conditions in the lab.
“Now we know these evidence works, we have started the next step – get the flight model (device) that is ready,” Viswanathan said.
This will include optimizing physical space that can be taken by the device and its performance under pressure such as vibration and acceleration due to gravity.
This device can also be adapted to study other organisms such as worms, and for non-biological experiments, the researchers said.
“All ideas for developing platform models for Indian researchers,” Kumar explained.
“Now ISRO starts an ambitious human space mission, it must appear with its own solution, made at home.”