Electric field-induced reversible trapping of microtubules along metallic glass microwire electrodes.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Kyongwan Kim; Sikora, Aurélien; Nakayama, Koji S.; Mitsuo Umetsu; Wonmuk Hwang; Winfried Teizer
- Source
- Journal of Applied Physics. 2015, Vol. 117 Issue 14, p144701-1-144701-10. 10p. 3 Diagrams, 3 Graphs.
- Subject
- *MICROTUBULES
*ELECTRIC properties of metallic glasses
*ELECTROPHORESIS
*ELECTROPHORETIC deposition
*FLUORESCENCE microscopy
- Language
- ISSN
- 0021-8979
Microtubules are among bio-polymers providing vital functions in dynamic cellular processes. Artificial organization of these bio-polymers is a requirement for transferring their native functions into device applications. Using electrophoresis, we achieve an accumulation of microtubules along a metallic glass (Pd42.5Cu30Ni7.5P20) microwire in solution. According to an estimate based on migration velocities of microtubules approaching the wire, the electrophoretic mobility of microtubules is around 10-12 m2/Vs. This value is four orders of magnitude smaller than the typical mobility reported previously. Fluorescence microscopy at the individual-microtubule level shows microtubules aligning along the wire axis during the electric field-induced migration. Caseintreated electrodes are effective to reversibly release trapped microtubules upon removal of the external field. An additional result is the condensation of secondary filamentous structures from oriented microtubules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]