A Novel Method to Accelerate the Phagocytosis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Macrophages Based on Optically Induced Dielectrophoresis

作者：Mingao Du, Lixiang Zheng, Fei Liu, Na Liu, Gongxin Li · 发表于：IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1109/tnb.2026.3656608 · 研究领域：Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies、Microbial Inactivation Methods、Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) can be used to treat diarrhea and the diseases associated with malaria, but it may cause invasive infections in individuals with weakened immune systems. While antibiotics are available for treating these infections, they can also produce side effects in the body. Additionally, macrophages in the human immune system can engulf infected S. cerevisiae, but they have some limitations, including a relatively weak active chemotactic response and a prolonged engulfing process. To address this, this paper proposes a novel method to enhance the phagocytosis of S. cerevisiae by macrophages using optically induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP). ODEP is a cellular micromanipulation technique that directs phagocytes towards S. cerevisiae cells, significantly improving phagocytosis efficiency. Furthermore, the optical electrodes created by ODEP expedite the phagocytosis process. To validate this approach, the optimal operating parameters for ODEP were determined through a combination of numerical simulations and experiments, enabling the swift and precise capture of phagocytes targeting S. cerevisiae. A comparative experiment was conducted to assess macrophage phagocytosis of S. cerevisiae with and without the aid of optical electrodes. Results showed that the time required for macrophages to engulf S. cerevisiae was reduced by 50%, highlighting a promising method for the early prevention or accelerated treatment of invasive S. cerevisiae fungal infecti...