Light-Directed Migration ofD. discoideumSlugs in Microfabricated Confinements.
This paper investigates the light-driven migration of the multi-cellular microorganismDictyostelium discoideumas 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.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027.
Jinho
J
Kim
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Herbert L
HL
Ennis
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027.
Thai Huu
TH
Nguyen
Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610209, China.
Xuye
X
Zhuang
Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610209, China.
Ji
J
Luo
Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610209, China.
Jun
J
Yao
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Richard H
RH
Kessin
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Milan
M
Stojanovic
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027.
Qiao
Q
Lin
Bio-microactuator; Dictyostelium discoideum; microchannel; microorganism; phototaxis