Acoustophoretic Handling of C. elegans in Microfluidic Channels

Abstract eng:
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a model organism for research in the field of molecular and developmental biology. Microfluidic chips have improved the handling capabilities and have made high-resolution imaging and fluorescent scanning of C. elegans possible by immobilization with special geometries, cooling or gasses [1]. Bulk acoustic wave (BAW) acoustophoresis is proposed to be a new contactless handling tool for un-anesthetized C. elegans with ultrasound. Acoustophoresis has been used to position or rotate particles in a fluid [2]. Here we show the abilities of this method for the contactless and harmless immobilization of C. elegans. The C. elegans are injected into a silicon microchanel and immobilized by focussing them in the pressure nodal lines of a standing acoustic wave. Switching between two fluid resonance modes is used to sort C.elegans in two separate outlets. Moreover, a 3D numerical simulation shows the physical princples of C. elegans manipulation.

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