Microoxen: Microorganisms to Move Microscale Loads.

"Microoxen: Microorganisms to Move Microscale Loads"
Douglas B. Weibel, Piotr Garstecki, Declan Ryan, Willow R. DiLuzio, Michael Mayer, Jennifer E. Seto, & George M. Whitesides
PNAS 102(34) 11963-11967 (2005)

Soft Matter Keywords

algae, phototaxis, photochemistry, beast of burden

Figure 1. Transport system used in this experiment. (A) Power (1-7) and recovery (8-11) strokes of algae. (B) Structure of the peptide used to attach beads to cells. (C) Reaction used to produce peptide-coated beads. (D) Micrograph of bead attached to algae cell. The bead is attached to the cell slightly above the current focal plane and so appears slightly out of focus.

Figure 2. (A)&(B) Schematics of LED/microfluidic channels used to steer the algae. (C) Image of bead attached to algae cell. (D)-(O) Series of frames showing a cell carrying a bead being steered back and forth in the microfluidic channel using positive phototaxis (cell is attracted to the LED that is on).

Figure 3. (A) Photo reaction that will cleave beads from algae cells. (B)-(M) Time series showing release of a bead from a cell carrying two beads. The cell was illuminated with UV light for 20 seconds before frame (B) and the time between frames is 2 seconds.

Summary

The authors detail a very novel approach to transporting small payloads using biological motors. Instead of attaching synthesized motors to a load, Weibel, et al. attach the load to an organism. This allows them to steer the transport of the load by controlling the locomotion of the organism. In this case, the unicellular photosynthetic algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was chosen for its robust locomotion, phototactic characteristics, and ease of culture. The simulated loads in these experiments were surface modified polystyrene beads. The peptide used to attach the bead to the algae cell contained a photo-active group that allows the bead to be cleaved from the cell when exposed to UV light of the appropriate wavelength. In this way, the beads can be delivered to a particular location and then released.

Practical Application of Research

This system works nicely for transporting microscale objects over relatively long distances (10s of centimeters). As Weibel, et al. point out, this system cannot be scaled down to the nanoscale, but does have the advantage of using an existing organism, which precludes engineering the control of biological motors attached directly to loads. One challenge that must be addressed before this is a fully viable system is controlled attachment of beads to the cells. An ideal system would allow precise placement of the bead on the cell surface so it doesn't impede locomotion.

Moving Loads with Tiny Oxen

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CR) is a type of photosynthetic algae that propels itself using two flagella. The flagella are approximates 12 microns in length and execute a breaststroke-like motion, as shown in Figure 1. The flagella beat at a frequency around 40-60 Hz and can propel the algae at velocities in the neighborhood of 100-200 microns/second. As the cells swim, they rotate counterclockwise above their longitudinal axis, tracing out a helical path. CR cells exhibit phototactic ability, with a maximum response at 505nm and a secondary response at 443nm. At high intensities, the cells exhibit negative phototaxis, swimming away from the light source, while at intermediate intensities, the cells are attracted to the light (positive phototaxis).

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written by Donald Aubrecht