Light-directed migration of D. discoideum slugs in microfabricated confinements

Jinho Kim, Herbert L. Ennis, Thai Huu Nguyen, Xuye Zhuang, Ji Luo, Jun Yao, Richard H. Kessin, Milan Stojanovic, Qiao Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)312-319
Number of pages8
JournalSensors and Actuators, A: Physical
Volume188
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

Keywords

  • Bio-microactuator
  • Dictyostelium discoideum
  • Microchannel
  • Microorganism
  • Phototaxis

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