Single Cell Isolation of Microalgae using Single Cell Dispensing Instruments

This application note discusses the use of single cell dispensing platforms from Namocell, a Bio-Techne brand. These single cell dispensing instruments were used to isolate individual microalgae directly from pond water with minimal handling and preparation. The platform can detect multiple fluorescent channels, including FITC, PE, and PerCP. The autofluorescence of green algal cells is utilized for microalgae isolation, and the nucleic acid dye SYTO 16 is used to distinguish DNA-containing cells from debris. The study confirms the presence of two distinct subtypes of microalgae collected from the site. The results highlight the utility of the autofluorescence of green algae in the PerCP channel for robust isolation of these cells. The platform offers a simple workflow for gentle single cell isolation that can be applied to a wide variety of autofluorescent cell types.