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Quantitative measurement of dynamic flow induced by Tetrahymena pyriformis (T. pyriformis) using micro-particle image velocimetry

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Abstract

In-depth quantitative visualization studies are required to understand the flow induced by swimming micro-organisms and find potential applications. The present study visualized the flow induced by Tetrahymena pyriformis of size 45–50 μm, which swam freely and via stimulation by galvanotaxis in a PDMS micro-chamber using a micro-particle image velocimetry system. The results showed that the maximum velocity of the induced flow was around 430 μm/s for free swimming and 700 μm/s for galvanotactic-controlled swimming. Due to the applied electric field, the electro-osmosis flow led to increased velocity of roughly 135 μm/s at 3 V/mm. The increased velocity stems from the increased motility of the cell under the electric field. Therefore, it was demonstrated that galvanotaxis can control the swimming direction and increase the induced velocity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Konkuk University in 2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace and Information Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea

    Jihoon Kim, Yonghee Jang & Doyoung Byun

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Minjun Kim

  3. Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea

    Seong-Won Nam & Sungsu Park

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  1. Jihoon Kim
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  2. Yonghee Jang
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  4. Minjun Kim
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Correspondence to Doyoung Byun.

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Kim, J., Jang, Y., Byun, D. et al. Quantitative measurement of dynamic flow induced by Tetrahymena pyriformis (T. pyriformis) using micro-particle image velocimetry. J Vis 14, 361–370 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-011-0102-1

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