A sorting strategy for C-elegans based on size-dependent motility and electrotaxis in a micro-structured channel
A sorting strategy for C-elegans based on size-dependent motility and electrotaxis in a micro-structured channel
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DOI：
10.1039/c2lc40209b
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发表时间：
2012-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
6.1
通讯作者：
Shin, Jennifer H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Han, Bicheng;Kim, Daeyeon;Shin, Jennifer H.
秀丽隐杆线虫（秀丽隐杆线虫）是一种模式生物，广泛应用于发育生物学、神经生物学和行为生物学的各种基础研究。这种蠕虫有四个不同的幼虫阶段，许多研究问题都是针对阶段的；因此，有必要根据蠕虫的发育阶段进行分类，这些发育阶段通常以不同的大小范围为代表。然而，手动同步大量蠕虫是耗时和劳动密集型的，而且商业上可用的自动分拣机庞大而昂贵。意识到需要一个成本效益和简单的微平台进行分类，我们报告了一种廉价和新颖的方法来实现这一目标。所提出的微平台具有六边形排列的微观结构，其几何尺寸根据蠕虫的大小优化了蠕虫的最大运动性。在每一个优化的微结构平台中，只有目标尺寸的蠕虫以最大波动频率连续游动。此外，可以通过沿着通道施加电场来实现蠕虫的持续和定向运动。基于线虫的最佳间隔微观结构和趋电行为，我们证明了线虫基于其大小依赖的游泳行为的分类策略的可行性。这个微平台也可以用于其他应用，例如在复杂结构中正常和运动缺陷突变蠕虫的行为研究。
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a model organism widely utilized in various fundamental studies in developmental, neural and behavioural biology. The worm features four distinct larval stages, and many research questions are stage-specific; therefore, it is necessary to sort worms by their developmental stages, which are typically represented by different size ranges. However, manually synchronizing large populations of worms is time-consuming and labour-intensive, and the commercially available automated sorter is massive and expensive. Realizing the need for a cost-effective and simple micro-platform for sorting, we report an inexpensive and novel method to accomplish this goal. The proposed micro-platform features hexagonally arrayed microstructures with geometric dimensions optimized for the maximum motility of the worms based on their sizes. In each of the optimized micro-structured platforms, only the worms with the targeted size swim continuously with the maximum undulation frequency. Additionally, the persistent and directed movement of the worms can be achieved by applying an electric field along the channel. Based on the optimally spaced microstructures and the electrotaxis behaviour of the worms, we demonstrate the feasibility of a sorting strategy of C. elegans based on their size-dependent swimming behaviour. This micro-platform can also be used for other applications, such as behavioural studies of normal and locomotion-defective mutant worms in complex structures.