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Guo Z, Ai N, Ge W, Xu Q. Design of an automated robotic microinjection system for batch injection of zebrafish embryos and larvae. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:20. [PMID: 38292776 PMCID: PMC10825123 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00645-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
This paper presents the design of a vision-based automated robotic microinjection system for batch injection of both zebrafish embryos and larvae. A novel visual recognition algorithm based on an automatic threshold and excessive dilatation is introduced to accurately identify the center of zebrafish embryos and larval yolks. A corresponding software system is developed using the producer-consumer model as the framework structure, and a friendly user interface is designed to allow operators to choose from a range of desired functions according to their different needs. In addition, a novel microstructural agarose device is designed and fabricated to simultaneously immobilize mixed batches of embryos and larvae. Moreover, a prototype microinjection system is fabricated by integrating hardware devices with visual algorithms. An experimental study is conducted to verify the performance of the robotic microinjection system. The results show that the reported system can accurately identify zebrafish embryos and larvae and efficiently complete batch microinjection tasks of the mixtures with an injection success rate of 92.05% in 13.88 s per sample. Compared with manual and existing microinjection systems, the proposed system demonstrates the merits of versatility, excellent efficiency, high success rate, high survival rate, and sufficient stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Guo
- Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Nana Ai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Qingsong Xu
- Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
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Fukuda S, Ando T. Technical advances in high-speed atomic force microscopy. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:2045-2058. [PMID: 38192344 PMCID: PMC10771405 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01171-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been 30 years since the outset of developing high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), and 15 years have passed since its establishment in 2008. This advanced microscopy is capable of directly visualizing individual biological macromolecules in dynamic action and has been widely used to answer important questions that are inaccessible by other approaches. The number of publications on the bioapplications of HS-AFM has rapidly increased in recent years and has already exceeded 350. Although less visible than these biological studies, efforts have been made for further technical developments aimed at enhancing the fundamental performance of HS-AFM, such as imaging speed, low sample disturbance, and scan size, as well as expanding its functionalities, such as correlative microscopy, temperature control, buffer exchange, and sample manipulations. These techniques can expand the range of HS-AFM applications. After summarizing the key technologies underlying HS-AFM, this article focuses on recent technical advances and discusses next-generation HS-AFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Fukuda
- Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan
| | - Toshio Ando
- Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan
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Xu K, Liu Y. Studies of probe tip materials by atomic force microscopy: a review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 13:1256-1267. [PMID: 36415853 PMCID: PMC9644057 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.13.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
As a tool that can test insulators' surface morphology and properties, the performance index of atomic force microscope (AFM) probes is the most critical factor in determining the resolution of microscopy, and the performance of probes varies in various modes and application requirements. This paper reviews the latest research results in metal, carbon nanotube, and colloidal probes and reviews their related methods and techniques, analyses the advantages and disadvantages of the improved probes compared with ordinary probes by comparing the differences in spatial resolution, sensitivity, imaging, and other performance aspects, and finally provides an outlook on the future development of AFM probes. This paper promotes the development of AFM probes in the direction of new probes and further promotes the broader and deeper application of scanning probe microscope (SPM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- School of Electrical & Control Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
| | - Yuzhe Liu
- School of Electrical & Control Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
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Zhao Y, Lou J, Zhang H, Sun H, Zhang M, Wang S, Sha X, Zhan Z, Wang Y, Ma C, Li WJ. Measurement methods of single cell drug response. Talanta 2021; 239:123035. [PMID: 34839926 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, a wide multitude of research activity has been focused on the development of new drugs, and devoted to overcome the challenges of high cost and low efficiency in drug evaluation. The measurement of drug response at the single cell level is a quicker, more direct and more accurate way to reflect drug efficacy, which can shorten the drug development period and reduce research costs. Therefore, the single cell drug response (SCDR) measurement technology has aroused extensive attention from researchers, and has become a hot topic in the fields of drug research and cell biology. Recent years have seen the emergence of various SCDR measurement technologies that feature different working principles and different levels of measurement performance. To better examine, compare and summarize the characteristics and functions of these technologies, we select signal-to-noise ratio, throughput, content, invasion, and device complexity as the criteria to evaluate them from the drug efficacy perspective. This review aims to highlight sixteen kinds of SCDR measurement technologies, including patch-clamp technique, live-cell interferometry, capillary electrophoresis, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and more, and report widespread representative examples of SCDR measurement the recent approaches for over the past forty years. Based on their reaction principles, these technologies are classified into four categories: electrical, optical, electrochemical, and mass spectrometry, and a detailed comparison is made between them. After in-depth understanding of these technologies, it is expected to improve or integrate these technologies to propose better SCDR measurement strategies, and explore methods in new drug development and screening, as well as disease diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Zhao
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Jiazhi Lou
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Menglin Zhang
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Shuyu Wang
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Xiaopeng Sha
- School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China
| | - Zhikun Zhan
- School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Cuihua Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China.
| | - Wen Jung Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
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