Handling of Micro Objects using Phase Transition of Thermoresponsive Polymer
Handling of Micro Objects using Phase Transition of Thermoresponsive Polymer
复制标题
利用热响应聚合物的相变处理微型物体
DOI：
10.1007/s12213-013-0060-x
复制
发表时间：
2013
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Toshio Fukuda
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Masaru Takeuchi;Masahiro Nakajima;Masaru Kojima;Toshio Fukuda
在本文中，我们实现了一个微小物体的处理使用的温敏聚合物溶液的相变。相变是由一个微加热器，这是嵌入在探针装置的尖端控制。一般来说，探针装置是用于显微操作的重要装置之一，特别是用于细胞操作，例如处理卵细胞、刚度测量和膜片钳。然而，传统的探针装置具有一些局限性：难以通过表面力的作用释放被处理的物体，并且由于直接接触而损坏被处理的细胞。作为解决这些问题的方法之一，我们利用温敏聚合物溶液的相变来控制微物体的搬运和释放。嵌入探针尖端的微加热器可以产生温敏凝胶。微物体可以由生成的凝胶处理，并通过将凝胶再次返回到溶胶而释放。利用该探针实现了对微小物体的操作和三维结构的组装。温敏凝胶产生μN的力以将被处理的物体固定在凝胶中。还证明了从酵母细胞（直径小于10 μm）到脂质体（直径大于100 μm）的多尺度处理。最后使用θ管进行纯水（不含热敏聚合物）中的微物体的处理。实验结果验证了温敏凝胶可以实现探针的柔性操作，降低表面力的影响，实现探针的精确定位。
In this paper, we achieve a handling of micro objects using a phase transition of thermoresponsive polymer solution. The phase transition was controlled by a microheater which is embedded in a tip of probe device. In general, probe devices are one of the important devices for micromanipulation, especially for cell manipulation such as handling of egg cells, stiffness measurement, and patch clamping. However, conventional probe devices have some limitations: difficulties in releasing the handled objects by the effect of surface force and damages to the handled cells by the direct contact. As one solution of those problems, we use phase transition of thermoresponsive polymer solution to control handling and releasing of micro objects. The microheater embedded in the probe tip can generate the thermoresponsive gel. Micro objects can be handled by the generated gel and released by returning the gel to sol again. The manipulation of micro objects and assembly of three dimensional structures were demonstrated by the probe. The thermoresponsive gel generated μN force to fix handled objects in the gel. The multi-scale handling from a yeast cell (less than 10 μm in diameter) to a liposome (more than 100 μm in diameter) was also demonstrated. The handling of micro objects in pure water (not containing thermoresponsive polymer) was finally conducted using a theta tube. Those results validate that the probe can achieve the soft handling by the thermoresponsive gel and the precise positioning by reducing the effect of surface force.