Molecular motor-driven filament transport across three-dimensional, polymeric micro-junctions

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Cordula Reuther - , Chair of BioNano-Tools (Author)
  • Sönke Steenhusen - , Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC (Author)
  • Christoph Robert Meinecke - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Pradheebha Surendiran - , Lund University (Author)
  • Aseem Salhotra - , Linnaeus University (Author)
  • Frida W. Lindberg - , Lund University (Author)
  • Alf M nsson - , Linnaeus University (Author)
  • Heiner Linke - , Lund University (Author)
  • Stefan Diez - , Chair of BioNano-Tools, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)

Abstract

Molecular motor-driven filament systems have been extensively explored for biomedical and nanotechnological applications such as lab-on-chip molecular detection or network-based biocomputation. In these applications, filament transport conventionally occurs in two dimensions (2D), often guided along open, topographically and/or chemically structured channels which are coated by molecular motors. However, at crossing points of different channels the filament direction is less well determined and, though crucial to many applications, reliable guiding across the junction can often not be guaranteed. We here present a three-dimensional (3D) approach that eliminates the possibility for filaments to take wrong turns at junctions by spatially separating the channels crossing each other. Specifically, 3D junctions with tunnels and overpasses were manufactured on glass substrates by two-photon polymerization, a 3D fabrication technology where a tightly focused, femtosecond-pulsed laser is scanned in a layer-to-layer fashion across a photo-polymerizable inorganic-organic hybrid polymer (ORMOCER®) with µm resolution. Solidification of the polymer was confined to the focal volume, enabling the manufacturing of arbitrary 3D microstructures according to computer-aided design data. Successful realization of the 3D junction design was verified by optical and electron microscopy. Most importantly, we demonstrated the reliable transport of filaments, namely microtubules propelled by kinesin-1 motors, across these 3D junctions without junction errors. Our results open up new possibilities for 3D functional elements in biomolecular transport systems, in particular their implementation in biocomputational networks.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number125002
JournalNew journal of physics
Volume23
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-0750-8515/work/142235539

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • 3D junctions, biocomputation, molecular motors, polymeric nanostructure

Library keywords