Lab-on-Chip Laboratory to Detect Effects of UV Radiation on Cellular Growth in Near-Space Environment
摘要
The 2024 Biostrat 2.0 mission deployed lab-on-chip technology to assess the effectiveness of yeast protection against ultraviolet radiation at elevated altitudes in the stratosphere. The payload, which adhered to CubeSat 1U standards, comprised sensors for monitoring environmental conditions and two experimental lab-on-chip mixers: one shielded from UV and temperature stress, and another exposed to these factors. The findings revealed that the samples subjected to UV radiation demonstrated a notable decline in cell viability when compared to the samples shielded from such radiation and the ground control samples. The 6% reduction in fluorescein’s mean gray value suggests that the sample absorbed UV radiation. Moreover, the growth medium containing fluorescein demonstrated enhanced protection for yeast compared to rhodamine, indicating fluorescein’s potential as a UV-protective agent.