Rapid and reversible immobilization of caenorhabditis elegans with an optoelectric device and pluronic F-127

This paper reports a development of an optoelectric device with Pluronic (P) F-127 for reversibly immobilizing Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans. The gelation time was less than 5 s, and C. elegans also recovered from the immobilization within 10 s. The proposed device achieved addressable immobilization for long-term observation and imaging with less stress acting on worms. Assessments regarding growth, progeny, lifespan and stress were conducted. Worms imposed with simultaneous laser irradiation and an electric field in the PF-127 solution within 3 h incurred no adverse reactions. The technique is expected to benefit the research work on drug screening in the future.