TY - JOUR
T1 - Light-directed migration of D. discoideum slugs in microfabricated confinements
AU - Kim, Jinho
AU - Ennis, Herbert L.
AU - Nguyen, Thai Huu
AU - Zhuang, Xuye
AU - Luo, Ji
AU - Yao, Jun
AU - Kessin, Richard H.
AU - Stojanovic, Milan
AU - Lin, Qiao
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - This paper investigates the light-driven migration of the multi-cellular microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum as a potential bio-actuation mechanism in microsystems. As a platform for slug migration we use microscale confinements, which consist of intersecting microchannels fabricated from solidified agar-water solution. The agar surface provides necessary moisture to the slugs during the experiment while remaining sufficiently stiff to allow effective slug migration. The movements of the slugs in the microchannels are driven and guided by phototaxis via controlling light transmitted through optical fibers. The microchannels impose geometrical confinements on the migrating slugs, improving the spatial precision of the migration. We demonstrate that slugs that form in a microchamber can be driven to migrate through the microchannels, as well as steered to a particular direction at microchannel intersections. Our experimental results indicate that slug movements can be more effectively controlled in microchannels, and potentially useful for bio-actuation applications.
AB - This paper investigates the light-driven migration of the multi-cellular microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum as a potential bio-actuation mechanism in microsystems. As a platform for slug migration we use microscale confinements, which consist of intersecting microchannels fabricated from solidified agar-water solution. The agar surface provides necessary moisture to the slugs during the experiment while remaining sufficiently stiff to allow effective slug migration. The movements of the slugs in the microchannels are driven and guided by phototaxis via controlling light transmitted through optical fibers. The microchannels impose geometrical confinements on the migrating slugs, improving the spatial precision of the migration. We demonstrate that slugs that form in a microchamber can be driven to migrate through the microchannels, as well as steered to a particular direction at microchannel intersections. Our experimental results indicate that slug movements can be more effectively controlled in microchannels, and potentially useful for bio-actuation applications.
KW - Bio-microactuator
KW - Dictyostelium discoideum
KW - Microchannel
KW - Microorganism
KW - Phototaxis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870064040&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84870064040&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sna.2011.12.044
DO - 10.1016/j.sna.2011.12.044
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84870064040
SN - 0924-4247
VL - 188
SP - 312
EP - 319
JO - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
JF - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
ER -