文章基本信息

标题：Fabrication of sharp silicon arrays to wound Caenorhabditis elegans
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作者：Jérôme Belougne ; Igor Ozerov ; Céline Caillard 等
期刊名称：Scientific Reports
电子版ISSN：2045-2322
出版年度：2020
卷号：10
期号：1
页码：1-8
DOI：10.1038/s41598-020-60333-7
出版社：Springer Nature
摘要：Understanding how animals respond to injury and how wounds heal remains a challenge. These questions can be addressed using genetically tractable animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Given its small size, the current methods for inflicting wounds in a controlled manner are demanding. To facilitate and accelerate the procedure, we fabricated regular arrays of pyramidal features ("pins”) sharp enough to pierce the tough nematode cuticle. The pyramids were made from monocrystalline silicon wafers that were micro-structured using optical lithography and alkaline wet etching. The fabrication protocol and the geometry of the pins, determined by electron microscopy, are described in detail. We also used electron microscopy to characterize the different types of injury caused by these pins. Upon wounding, C. elegans expresses genes encoding antimicrobial peptides. A comparison of the induction of antimicrobial peptide gene expression using traditional needles and the pin arrays demonstrates the utility of this new method.