Magnetic Patterning of Vorticella convallaria in a Microfluidic Device

Trevor C Butler; Jieyu Zhang; Haipeng Zhang; Sangjin Ryu; Amy Styer Greene

doi:10.1111/jeu.12819

Magnetic Patterning of Vorticella convallaria in a Microfluidic Device

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2020 Nov;67(6):687-690. doi: 10.1111/jeu.12819. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

Authors

Trevor C Butler¹, Jieyu Zhang², Haipeng Zhang³, Sangjin Ryu^{3

4}, Amy Styer Greene²

Affiliations

¹ Science and Math Department, Judson University, Elgin, 60123, Illinois, USA.
² Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Albright College, Reading, 19604, Pennsylvania, USA.
³ Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA.
⁴ Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA.

PMID: 32702141
DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12819

Abstract

We describe an inexpensive magnetic cell patterning method as a tool for protozoologists. The ciliate Vorticella convallaria is useful for various biofluidics applications. Here, we show that V. convallaria will ingest metal beads and that permanent magnets can be used to pattern cells in Petri dishes or a microfluidic device. Patterning is reversibly achieved by placing magnets at the point of desired cell attachment. Analogous magnetic manipulation could be performed using other phagocytic cells.

Keywords: Biofluidic; ciliate; micromanipulation; phagocytosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Separation / methods*
Ciliophora*
Cytological Techniques / instrumentation
Cytological Techniques / methods
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
Magnetic Phenomena
Magnets*
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
Phagocytosis