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Updated: May 13, 2026

Axonal Transport of Organelles in Motor Neuron Cultures using Microfluidic Chambers System
Published on: May 5, 2020
Specific transport of target molecules by motor proteins in microfluidic channels
Mehmet C Tarhan1, Ryuji Yokokawa, Fabrice O Morin
1Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan. mctarhan@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Abstract:
Direct transport powered by motor proteins can alleviate the challenges presented by miniaturization of microfluidic systems. There have been several recent attempts to build motor-protein-driven transport systems based on simple capturing or transport mechanisms. However, to achieve a multifunctional device for practical applications, a more complex sorting/transport system should be realized. Herein, the proof of concept of a sorting device employing selective capture of distinct target molecules and transport of the sorted molecules to different predefined directions is presented. By combining the bottom-up functionality of biological systems with the top-down handling capabilities of micro-electromechanical systems technology, highly selective molecular recognition and motor-protein-based transport is integrated in a microfluidic channel network.
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