Berlin 2008 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Downloads | Help
BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 7: Posters I
BP 7.26: Poster
Monday, February 25, 2008, 17:00–19:30, Poster A
Manipulation of biological filaments by electric fields — •Christoph Wigge1, Horst Hinssen2, and Simone Herth1 — 1Thin Films and Nanostructures, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University — 2Biochemical Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University
The induced alignment of biological filaments on surfaces has the potential to provide controllable geometries for lab on a chip like structures. Actin with a diameter of 7-8 nm and microtubules with a diameter of 25 nm were chosen to study filamentous structures of different size ranges. Both types of supramolecular aggregates show polarity and can be manipulated with electric fields. Many of the earlier experiments were performed as gliding assays, where the surfaces were structured and coated with the motor proteins. In this work, the so called bead geometry is used in which filaments are structured on different surfaces and motor proteins glide on these filaments transporting cargos. This approach has the advantage that not only biological filaments but also inorganic cargos, such as magnetic nanoparticles can be transported and manipulated. In this project biological filaments are manipulated on a chip by applied electrical fields. The alignment process is controlled by light microscopy, scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The goal of this project is to create a "Y"-structure made of biological filaments, which allows magnetic nanoparticles loaded with motor proteins to be separated using magnetic fields.