Microswimmer Combing: Controlling Interfacial Dynamics for Open-Surface Multifunctional Screening of Small Animals

Area of Science:

• * Biology
• * Biophysics
• * Bioengineering

Background:

• * High-throughput screening of multicellular organisms is vital for biological research and drug discovery.
• * Existing microfluidic methods for manipulating small model organisms are often complex, limiting their use in standard laboratories.
• * There is a need for simpler, more accessible techniques for high-throughput experimentation with live micro-organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To introduce an ultrasimple and effective method, termed "microswimmer combing," for the rapid isolation of live small animals.
• * To demonstrate the versatility of an open-surface device for various screening applications.
• * To facilitate broader access to high-throughput experimentation for the broader biological community.

Main Methods:

• * Development of an open-surface device utilizing a dynamic contact line-combing mechanism.
• * Exploitation of the mechanism to handle highly active microswimmers (small animals).
• * Implementation of a robust isolation method with simple device operation for users without prior experience.

Main Results:

• * Successful rapid isolation of live small animals on an open-surface array.
• * Demonstrated robustness and simplicity of the microswimmer combing technique.
• * Enabled multiple screening applications including high-resolution imaging, mutant selection, and chemical screening.

Conclusions:

• * The microswimmer combing method offers a simple and effective solution for isolating live small animals.
• * The open-surface device enhances accessibility to high-throughput experimentation for biologists.
• * This approach opens new avenues for studying active microswimmers across scientific disciplines.