title: Chemical control of Vorticella bioactuator using microfluidics.
abstract: In this report, we demonstrate a microfluidic platform to control the stalk contraction and extension of Vorticella convallaria by changing concentration of Ca2+ with pneumatically-actuated elastomeric microvalves. Habitation, extraction and control of V. convallaria were carried out in a PDMS-based microfluidic device. By treating the cells with the permeant saponin, external actuation of cell-anchoring stalk between an extended and contracted state was achieved by cyclic exposure of the cells to a Ca2+ buffer (10(-6) M) and a rinse buffer containing EGTA as a chelation agent. When solutions were switched, the stalk contracted and extended responding to the ambient Ca2+ concentration change. The length of the stalk changed between 20 and 60 microm, resulting in a working distance of about 40 microm.
authors.affiliation: CIRMM, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-5805, Japan. moeto@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Moeto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Sangjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thorsen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007267:Injections; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D016802:Oligohymenophorea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium