A sorting strategy for C. elegans based on size-dependent motility and electrotaxis in a micro-structured channel.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Neurobiology
• Behavioral Biology

Background:

• Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a crucial model organism for fundamental biological studies.
• Accurate sorting of C. elegans by developmental stage is essential for stage-specific research questions.
• Manual sorting is laborious, and existing automated systems are expensive and bulky.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an inexpensive and simple micro-platform for sorting C. elegans based on size.
• To create a cost-effective alternative to manual sorting and expensive automated systems.
• To enable efficient separation of C. elegans populations for research.

Main Methods:

• Design of a micro-platform with hexagonally arrayed microstructures.
• Optimization of microstructure geometric dimensions for worm motility.
• Application of an electric field to induce directed movement (electrotaxis).
• Leveraging size-dependent swimming behavior and electrotaxis for sorting.

Main Results:

• The micro-platform effectively sorts C. elegans based on size-dependent swimming behavior.
• Worms of a targeted size exhibit continuous swimming with maximum undulation frequency.
• Directed movement is achieved using an electric field along the microchannel.
• Demonstrated feasibility of size-based C. elegans sorting.

Conclusions:

• The novel micro-platform provides a cost-effective and efficient method for sorting C. elegans by size.
• This technology facilitates stage-specific research in developmental, neural, and behavioral biology.
• The platform has potential applications in studying worm behavior, including mutant strains.