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Liu Z, Luo X, Yan-Do R, Wang Y, Xie X, Li Z, Cheng SH, Shi P. Vertebrates on a Chip: Noninvasive Electrical and Optical Mapping of Whole Brain Activity Associated with Pharmacological Treatments. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2121-2131. [PMID: 38775291 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mapping brain activities is necessary for understanding brain physiology and discovering new treatments for neurological disorders. Such efforts have greatly benefited from the advancement in technologies for analyzing neural activity with improving temporal or spatial resolution. Here, we constructed a multielectrode array based brain activity mapping (BAM) system capable of stabilizing and orienting zebrafish larvae for recording electroencephalogram (EEG) like local field potential (LFP) signals and brain-wide calcium dynamics in awake zebrafish. Particularly, we designed a zebrafish trap chip that integrates with an eight-by-eight surface electrode array, so that brain electrophysiology can be noninvasively recorded in an agarose-free and anesthetic-free format with a high temporal resolution of 40 μs, matching the capability typically achieved by invasive LFP recording. Benefiting from the specially designed hybrid system, we can also conduct calcium imaging directly on immobilized awake larval zebrafish, which further supplies us with high spatial resolution brain-wide activity data. All of these innovations reconcile the limitations of sole LFP recording or calcium imaging, emphasizing a synergy of combining electrical and optical modalities within one unified device for activity mapping across a whole vertebrate brain with both improved spatial and temporal resolutions. The compatibility with in vivo drug treatment further makes it suitable for pharmacology studies based on multimodal measurement of brain-wide physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Richard Yan-Do
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Xi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhongping Li
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Peng Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR
- Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China
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Sofyantoro F, Septriani NI, Yudha DS, Wicaksono EA, Priyono DS, Putri WA, Primahesa A, Raharjeng ARP, Purwestri YA, Nuringtyas TR. Zebrafish as Versatile Model for Assessing Animal Venoms and Toxins: Current Applications and Future Prospects. Zebrafish 2024; 21:231-242. [PMID: 38608228 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal venoms and toxins hold promise as sources of novel drug candidates, therapeutic agents, and biomolecules. To fully harness their potential, it is crucial to develop reliable testing methods that provide a comprehensive understanding of their effects and mechanisms of action. However, traditional rodent assays encounter difficulties in mimicking venom-induced effects in human due to the impractical venom dosage levels. The search for reliable testing methods has led to the emergence of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a versatile model organism for evaluating animal venoms and toxins. Zebrafish possess genetic similarities to humans, rapid development, transparency, and amenability to high-throughput assays, making it ideal for assessing the effects of animal venoms and toxins. This review highlights unique attributes of zebrafish and explores their applications in studying venom- and toxin-induced effects from various species, including snakes, jellyfish, cuttlefish, anemones, spiders, and cone snails. Through zebrafish-based research, intricate physiological responses, developmental alterations, and potential therapeutic interventions induced by venoms are revealed. Novel techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, optogenetics, and high-throughput screening hold great promise for advancing venom research. As zebrafish-based insights converge with findings from other models, the comprehensive understanding of venom-induced effects continues to expand, guiding the development of targeted interventions and promoting both scientific knowledge and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fajar Sofyantoro
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Ega Adhi Wicaksono
- Faculties of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Sendi Priyono
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Alfian Primahesa
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Anita Restu Puji Raharjeng
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia
| | - Yekti Asih Purwestri
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tri Rini Nuringtyas
- Faculties of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Stiefbold M, Zhang H, Wan LQ. Engineered platforms for mimicking cardiac development and drug screening. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:197. [PMID: 38664263 PMCID: PMC11045633 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05231-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects are associated with significant health challenges, demanding a deep understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms and, thus, better devices or platforms that can recapitulate human cardiac development. The discovery of human pluripotent stem cells has substantially reduced the dependence on animal models. Recent advances in stem cell biology, genetic editing, omics, microfluidics, and sensor technologies have further enabled remarkable progress in the development of in vitro platforms with increased fidelity and efficiency. In this review, we provide an overview of advancements in in vitro cardiac development platforms, with a particular focus on technological innovation. We categorize these platforms into four areas: two-dimensional solid substrate cultures, engineered substrate architectures that enhance cellular functions, cardiac organoids, and embryos/explants-on-chip models. We conclude by addressing current limitations and presenting future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Stiefbold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Haokang Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Leo Q Wan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Imaging in Medicine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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Tazin N, Stevenson TJ, Bonkowsky JL, Gale BK. Using Electroporation to Improve and Accelerate Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity Testing. MICROMACHINES 2023; 15:49. [PMID: 38258168 PMCID: PMC10819337 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Zebrafish have emerged as a useful model for biomedical research and have been used in environmental toxicology studies. However, the presence of the chorion during the embryo stage limits cellular exposure to toxic elements and creates the possibility of a false-negative or reduced sensitivity in fish embryo toxicity testing (FET). This paper presents the use of electroporation as a technique to improve the delivery of toxic elements inside the chorion, increasing the exposure level of the toxins at an early embryo stage (<3 h post-fertilization). A custom-made electroporation device with the required electrical circuitry has been developed to position embryos between electrodes that provide electrical pulses to expedite the entry of molecules inside the chorion. The optimized parameters facilitate material entering into the chorion without affecting the survival rate of the embryos. The effectiveness of the electroporation system is demonstrated using Trypan blue dye and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, 20-40 nm). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of controlling the concentration of dye and nanoparticles delivered inside the chorion by optimizing the electrical parameters, including pulse width, pulse number, and amplitude. Next, we tested silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 10 nm), a commonly used toxin that can lower mortality, affect heart rate, and cause phenotypic defects. We found that electroporation of AgNPs reduces the exposure time required for toxicity testing from 4 days to hours. Electroporation for FET can provide rapid entry of potential toxins into zebrafish embryos, reducing the time required for toxicity testing and drug delivery experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusrat Tazin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Tamara J. Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Joshua L. Bonkowsky
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Bruce K. Gale
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Jia X, Feng Y, Ma W, Zhao W, Liu Y, Jing G, Tian J, Yang T, Zhang C. A fluidic platform for mobility evaluation of zebrafish with gene deficiency. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1114928. [PMID: 37089692 PMCID: PMC10117665 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1114928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionZebrafish is a suitable animal model for molecular genetic tests and drug discovery due to its characteristics including optical transparency, genetic manipulability, genetic similarity to humans, and cost-effectiveness. Mobility of the zebrafish reflects pathological conditions leading to brain disorders, disrupted motor functions, and sensitivity to environmental challenges. However, it remains technologically challenging to quantitively assess zebrafish's mobility in a flowing environment and simultaneously monitor cellular behavior in vivo.MethodsWe herein developed a facile fluidic device using mechanical vibration to controllably generate various flow patterns in a droplet housing single zebrafish, which mimics its dynamically flowing habitats.ResultsWe observe that in the four recirculating flow patterns, there are two equilibrium stagnation positions for zebrafish constrained in the droplet, i.e., the “source” with the outward flow and the “sink” with the inward flow. Wild-type zebrafish, whose mobility remains intact, tend to swim against the flow and fight to stay at the source point. A slight deviation from streamline leads to an increased torque pushing the zebrafish further away, whereas zebrafish with motor neuron dysfunction caused by lipin-1 deficiency are forced to stay in the “sink,” where both their head and tail align with the flow direction. Deviation angle from the source point can, therefore, be used to quantify the mobility of zebrafish under flowing environmental conditions. Moreover, in a droplet of comparable size, single zebrafish can be effectively restrained for high-resolution imaging.ConclusionUsing the proposed methodology, zebrafish mobility reflecting pathological symptoms can be quantitively investigated and directly linked to cellular behavior in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Theoretical Physics Frontiers, Institute of Modern Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
| | - Yibo Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenju Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanan Liu
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
| | - Guangyin Jing
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- *Correspondence: Guangyin Jing
| | - Jing Tian
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- Jing Tian
| | - Tao Yang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Theoretical Physics Frontiers, Institute of Modern Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- Tao Yang
| | - Ce Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- School of Physics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- Ce Zhang
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Feng J, Neuzil J, Manz A, Iliescu C, Neuzil P. Microfluidic trends in drug screening and drug delivery. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Pattanayak P, Singh SK, Gulati M, Vishwas S, Kapoor B, Chellappan DK, Anand K, Gupta G, Jha NK, Gupta PK, Prasher P, Dua K, Dureja H, Kumar D, Kumar V. Microfluidic chips: recent advances, critical strategies in design, applications and future perspectives. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2021; 25:99. [PMID: 34720789 PMCID: PMC8547131 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-021-02502-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic chip technology is an emerging tool in the field of biomedical application. Microfluidic chip includes a set of groves or microchannels that are engraved on different materials (glass, silicon, or polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS, polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA). The microchannels forming the microfluidic chip are interconnected with each other for desired results. This organization of microchannels trapped into the microfluidic chip is associated with the outside by inputs and outputs penetrating through the chip, as an interface between the macro- and miniature world. With the help of a pump and a chip, microfluidic chip helps to determine the behavioral change of the microfluids. Inside the chip, there are microfluidic channels that permit the processing of the fluid, for example, blending and physicochemical responses. Microfluidic chip has numerous points of interest including lesser time and reagent utilization and alongside this, it can execute numerous activities simultaneously. The miniatured size of the chip fastens the reaction as the surface area increases. It is utilized in different biomedical applications such as food safety sensing, peptide analysis, tissue engineering, medical diagnosis, DNA purification, PCR activity, pregnancy, and glucose estimation. In the present study, the design of various microfluidic chips has been discussed along with their biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapti Pattanayak
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Monica Gulati
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Sukriti Vishwas
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Bhupinder Kapoor
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Krishnan Anand
- Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences and National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Mahal Road, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201310 India
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Plot no. 32-34, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201310 India
| | - Parteek Prasher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Dehradun, 248007 India
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Harish Dureja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 12401 India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, 173229 India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- School of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
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Nam SW, Chae JP, Kwon YH, Son MY, Bae JS, Park MJ. Xenopus chip for single-egg trapping, in vitro fertilization, development, and tadpole escape. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 569:29-34. [PMID: 34225077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Xenopus laevis is highly suitable as a toxicology animal model owing to its advantages in embryogenesis research. For toxicological studies, a large number of embryos must be handled simultaneously because they very rapidly develop into the target stages within a short period of time. To efficiently handle the embryos, a convenient embryo housing device is essential for fast and reliable assessment and statistical evaluation of malformation caused by toxicants. Here, we suggest 3D fabrication of single-egg trapping devices in which Xenopus eggs are fertilized in vitro, and the embryos are cultured. We used manual pipetting to insert the Xenopus eggs inside the trapping sites of the chip. By introducing a liquid circulating system, we connected a sperm-mixed solution with the chip to induce in vitro fertilization of the eggs. After the eggs were fertilized, we observed embryo development involving the formation of egg cleavage, blastula, gastrula, and tadpole. After the tadpoles grew inside the chip, we saved their lives by enabling their escape from the chip through reverse flow of the culture medium. The Xenopus chip can serve as an incubator to induce fertilization and monitor normal and abnormal development of the Xenopus from egg to tadpole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Wook Nam
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41405, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong-Pil Chae
- Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41404, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Hwan Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41404, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Young Son
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Sung Bae
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Mae-Ja Park
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea
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Panuška P, Nejedlá Z, Smejkal J, Aubrecht P, Liegertová M, Štofik M, Havlica J, Malý J. A millifluidic chip for cultivation of fish embryos and toxicity testing fabricated by 3D printing technology. RSC Adv 2021; 11:20507-20518. [PMID: 35479895 PMCID: PMC9033994 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra00846c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel design of 3D printed zebrafish millifluidic system for embryonic long-term cultivation and toxicity screening has been developed. The chip unit provides 24 cultivation chambers and a selective individual embryo removal functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Panuška
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Nejedlá
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Smejkal
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Petr Aubrecht
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Liegertová
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Štofik
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Jaromír Havlica
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
| | - Jan Malý
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Science
- University of J.E. Purkyne
- 400 96 Usti nad Labem
- Czech Republic
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Mani K, Chen CY. A non-invasive acoustic-trapping of zebrafish microfluidics. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:014109. [PMID: 33643511 PMCID: PMC7889294 DOI: 10.1063/5.0026916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish is an emerging alternative model in behavioral and neurological studies for pharmaceutical applications. However, little is known regarding the effects of noise exposure on laboratory-grown zebrafish. Accordingly, this study commenced by exposing zebrafish embryos to loud background noise (≥200 Hz, 80 ± 10 dB) for five days in a microfluidic environment. The noise exposure was found to affect the larvae hatching rate, larvae length, and swimming performance. A microfluidic platform was then developed for the sorting/trapping of hatched zebrafish larvae using a non-invasive method based on light cues and acoustic actuation. The experimental results showed that the proposed method enabled zebrafish larvae to be transported and sorted into specific chambers of the microchannel network in the desired time frame. The proposed non-invasive trapping method thus has potentially profound applications in drug screening.
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11
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Tzivelekis C, Sgardelis P, Waldron K, Whalley R, Huo D, Dalgarno K. Fabrication routes via projection stereolithography for 3D-printing of microfluidic geometries for nucleic acid amplification. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240237. [PMID: 33112867 PMCID: PMC7592796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital Light Processing (DLP) stereolithography (SLA) as a high-resolution 3D printing process offers a low-cost alternative for prototyping of microfluidic geometries, compared to traditional clean-room and workshop-based methods. Here, we investigate DLP-SLA printing performance for the production of micro-chamber chip geometries suitable for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a key process in molecular diagnostics to amplify nucleic acid sequences. A DLP-SLA fabrication protocol for printed micro-chamber devices with monolithic micro-channels is developed and evaluated. Printed devices were post-processed with ultraviolet (UV) light and solvent baths to reduce PCR inhibiting residuals and further treated with silane coupling agents to passivate the surface, thereby limiting biomolecular adsorption occurences during the reaction. The printed devices were evaluated on a purpose-built infrared (IR) mediated PCR thermocycler. Amplification of 75 base pair long target sequences from genomic DNA templates on fluorosilane and glass modified chips produced amplicons consistent with the control reactions, unlike the non-silanized chips that produced faint or no amplicon. The results indicated good functionality of the IR thermocycler and good PCR compatibility of the printed and silanized SLA polymer. Based on the proposed methods, various microfluidic designs and ideas can be validated in-house at negligible costs without the requirement of tool manufacturing and workshop or clean-room access. Additionally, the versatile chemistry of 3D printing resins enables customised surface properties adding significant value to the printed prototypes. Considering the low setup and unit cost, design flexibility and flexible resin chemistries, DLP-SLA is anticipated to play a key role in future prototyping of microfluidics, particularly in the fields of research biology and molecular diagnostics. From a system point-of-view, the proposed method of thermocycling shows promise for portability and modular integration of funcitonalitites for diagnostic or research applications that utilize nucleic acid amplification technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pavlos Sgardelis
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Waldron
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Whalley
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Dehong Huo
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Kenny Dalgarno
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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A Microfluidic System for Stable and Continuous EEG Monitoring from Multiple Larval Zebrafish. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20205903. [PMID: 33086704 PMCID: PMC7590171 DOI: 10.3390/s20205903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Along with the increasing popularity of larval zebrafish as an experimental animal in the fields of drug screening, neuroscience, genetics, and developmental biology, the need for tools to deal with multiple larvae has emerged. Microfluidic channels have been employed to handle multiple larvae simultaneously, even for sensing electroencephalogram (EEG). In this study, we developed a microfluidic chip capable of uniform and continuous drug infusion across all microfluidic channels during EEG recording. Owing to the modular design of the microfluidic channels, the number of animals under investigation can be easily increased. Using the optimized design of the microfluidic chip, liquids could be exchanged uniformly across all channels without physically affecting the larvae contained in the channels, which assured a stable environment maintained all the time during EEG recording, by eliminating environmental artifacts and leaving only biological effects to be seen. To demonstrate the usefulness of the developed system in drug screening, we continuously measured EEG from four larvae without and with pentylenetetrazole application, up to 60 min. In addition, we recorded EEG from valproic acid (VPA)-treated zebrafish and demonstrated the suppression of seizure by VPA. The developed microfluidic system could contribute to the mass screening of EEG for drug development to treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy in a short time, owing to its handy size, cheap fabrication cost, and the guaranteed uniform drug infusion across all channels with no environmentally induced artifacts.
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Yip JK, Harrison M, Villafuerte J, Fernandez GE, Petersen AP, Lien CL, McCain ML. Extended culture and imaging of normal and regenerating adult zebrafish hearts in a fluidic device. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:274-284. [PMID: 31872200 PMCID: PMC8015799 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc01044k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction and heart failure are leading causes of death worldwide, in large part because adult human myocardium has extremely limited regeneration capacity. Zebrafish are a powerful model for identifying new strategies for human cardiac repair because their hearts regenerate after relatively severe injuries. Zebrafish are also relatively scalable and compatible with many genetic tools. However, characterizing the regeneration process in live adult zebrafish hearts has proved challenging because adult fish are opaque, preventing live imaging in vivo. An alternative strategy is to explant and culture intact adult zebrafish hearts and investigate them ex vivo. However, explanted hearts maintained in conventional culture conditions experience rapid declines in morphology and physiology. To overcome these limitations, we designed and fabricated a fluidic device for culturing explanted adult zebrafish hearts with constant media perfusion that is also compatible with live imaging. We then compared the morphology and calcium activity of hearts cultured in the device, hearts cultured statically in dishes, and freshly explanted hearts. After one week of culture, hearts in the device experienced significantly less morphological degradation compared to hearts cultured in dishes. Hearts cultured in devices for one week also maintained capture rates similar to fresh hearts, unlike hearts cultured in dishes. We then cultured explanted injured hearts in the device and used live imaging techniques to continuously record the myocardial revascularization process over several days, demonstrating how our device is compatible with long-term live imaging and thereby enables unprecedented visual access to the multi-day process of adult zebrafish heart regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joycelyn K Yip
- Laboratory for Living Systems Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Michael Harrison
- Heart Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Jessi Villafuerte
- Heart Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA and Department of Biology, California State University of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - G Esteban Fernandez
- The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Andrew P Petersen
- Laboratory for Living Systems Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Ching-Ling Lien
- Heart Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA and Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Megan L McCain
- Laboratory for Living Systems Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. and Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Horowitz LF, Rodriguez AD, Ray T, Folch A. Microfluidics for interrogating live intact tissues. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:69. [PMID: 32879734 PMCID: PMC7443437 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0164-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The intricate microarchitecture of tissues - the "tissue microenvironment" - is a strong determinant of tissue function. Microfluidics offers an invaluable tool to precisely stimulate, manipulate, and analyze the tissue microenvironment in live tissues and engineer mass transport around and into small tissue volumes. Such control is critical in clinical studies, especially where tissue samples are scarce, in analytical sensors, where testing smaller amounts of analytes results in faster, more portable sensors, and in biological experiments, where accurate control of the cellular microenvironment is needed. Microfluidics also provides inexpensive multiplexing strategies to address the pressing need to test large quantities of drugs and reagents on a single biopsy specimen, increasing testing accuracy, relevance, and speed while reducing overall diagnostic cost. Here, we review the use of microfluidics to study the physiology and pathophysiology of intact live tissues at sub-millimeter scales. We categorize uses as either in vitro studies - where a piece of an organism must be excised and introduced into the microfluidic device - or in vivo studies - where whole organisms are small enough to be introduced into microchannels or where a microfluidic device is interfaced with a live tissue surface (e.g. the skin or inside an internal organ or tumor) that forms part of an animal larger than the device. These microfluidic systems promise to deliver functional measurements obtained directly on intact tissue - such as the response of tissue to drugs or the analysis of tissue secretions - that cannot be obtained otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa F. Horowitz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Adán D. Rodriguez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Tyler Ray
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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15
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Panigrahi B, Chen CY. Microfluidic Transportation Control of Larval Zebrafish through Optomotor Regulations under a Pressure-Driven Flow. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10120880. [PMID: 31847405 PMCID: PMC6953065 DOI: 10.3390/mi10120880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
To perform zebrafish larvae-related experiments within a microfluidic environment, the larvae need to be anesthetized and subsequently transported into respective test sections through mechanical or manual means. However, anesthetization tends to affect larval sensory perceptions, hindering their natural behaviors. Taking into account that juvenile larvae move naturally within their environment by accessing visual as well as hydromechanical cues, this work proposes an experimental framework to transport nonanesthetized larvae within a microfluidic environment by harmonically tuning both of the aforementioned cues. To provide visual cues, computer-animated moving gratings were provided through an in-house-developed control interface that drove the larval optomotor response. In the meantime, to provide hydromechanical cues, the flow rate was tuned using a syringe pump that affected the zebrafish larvae’s lateral line movement. The results obtained (corresponding to different test conditions) suggest that the magnitude of both modalities plays a crucial role in larval transportation and orientation control. For instance, with a flow rate tuning of 0.1 mL/min along with grating parameters of 1 Hz temporal frequency, the average transportation time for larvae that were 5 days postfertilization was recorded at 1.29 ± 0.49 s, which was approximately three times faster than the transportation time required only in the presence of hydromechanical cues.
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16
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Editorial for the Special Issue on Microfluidics for Cell and Other Organisms. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10080520. [PMID: 31387332 PMCID: PMC6723602 DOI: 10.3390/mi10080520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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17
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Khalili A, Rezai P. Microfluidic devices for embryonic and larval zebrafish studies. Brief Funct Genomics 2019; 18:419-432. [DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Zebrafish or Danio rerio is an established model organism for studying the genetic, neuronal and behavioral bases of diseases and for toxicology and drug screening. The embryonic and larval stages of zebrafish have been used extensively in fundamental and applied research due to advantages offered such as body transparency, small size, low cost of cultivation and high genetic homology with humans. However, the manual experimental methods used for handling and investigating this organism are limited due to their low throughput, labor intensiveness and inaccuracy in delivering external stimuli to the zebrafish while quantifying various neuronal and behavioral responses. Microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices have emerged as ideal technologies to overcome these challenges. In this review paper, the current microfluidic approaches for investigation of behavior and neurobiology of zebrafish at embryonic and larval stages will be reviewed. Our focus will be to provide an overview of the microfluidic methods used to manipulate (deliver and orient), immobilize and expose or inject zebrafish embryos or larvae, followed by quantification of their responses in terms of neuron activities and movement. We will also provide our opinion in terms of the direction that the field of zebrafish microfluidics is heading toward in the area of biomedical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Khalili
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pouya Rezai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Riordon J, Sovilj D, Sanner S, Sinton D, Young EW. Deep Learning with Microfluidics for Biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 2019; 37:310-324. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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A Bubble-Free Microfluidic Device for Easy-to-Operate Immobilization, Culturing and Monitoring of Zebrafish Embryos. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10030168. [PMID: 30823425 PMCID: PMC6470713 DOI: 10.3390/mi10030168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of miniaturized devices for studying zebrafish embryos has been limited due to complicated fabrication and operation processes. Here, we reported on a microfluidic device that enabled the capture and culture of zebrafish embryos and real-time monitoring of dynamic embryonic development. The device was simply fabricated by bonding two layers of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures replicated from three-dimensional (3D) printed reusable molds onto a flat glass substrate. Embryos were easily loaded into the device with a pipette, docked in traps by gravity, and then retained in traps with hydrodynamic forces for long-term culturing. A degassing chamber bonded on top was used to remove air bubbles from the embryo-culturing channel and traps so that any embryo movement caused by air bubbles was eliminated during live imaging. Computational fluid dynamics simulations suggested this embryo-trapping and -retention regime to exert low shear stress on the immobilized embryos. Monitoring of the zebrafish embryogenesis over 20 h during the early stages successfully verified the performance of the microfluidic device for culturing the immobilized zebrafish embryos. Therefore, this rapid-prototyping, low-cost and easy-to-operate microfluidic device offers a promising platform for the long-term culturing of immobilized zebrafish embryos under continuous medium perfusion and the high-quality screening of the developmental dynamics.
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Atakan HB, Cornaglia M, Mouchiroud L, Auwerx J, Gijs MAM. Automated high-content phenotyping from the first larval stage till the onset of adulthood of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 19:120-135. [PMID: 30484462 PMCID: PMC6309680 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00863a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is increasingly used as a model for human biology. However, in vivo culturing platforms for C. elegans allowing high-content phenotyping during their life cycle in an automated fashion are lacking so far. Here, a multiplexed microfluidic platform for the rapid high-content phenotyping of populations of C. elegans down to single animal resolution is presented. Nematodes are (i) reversibly and regularly confined during their life inside tapered channels for imaging fluorescence signal expression and to measure their growth parameters, and (ii) allowed to freely move in microfluidic chambers, during which the swimming behavior was video-recorded. The obtained data sets are analyzed in an automated way and 19 phenotypic parameters are extracted. Our platform is employed for studying the effect of bacteria dilution, a form of dietary restriction (DR) in nematodes, on a worm model of Huntington's disease and demonstrates the influence of DR on disease regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Baris Atakan
- Laboratory of Microsystems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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21
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Flow rate independent gradient generator and application in microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1044:77-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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22
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Kim AA, Nekimken AL, Fechner S, O'Brien LE, Pruitt BL. Microfluidics for mechanobiology of model organisms. Methods Cell Biol 2018; 146:217-259. [PMID: 30037463 PMCID: PMC6418080 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli play a critical role in organ development, tissue homeostasis, and disease. Understanding how mechanical signals are processed in multicellular model systems is critical for connecting cellular processes to tissue- and organism-level responses. However, progress in the field that studies these phenomena, mechanobiology, has been limited by lack of appropriate experimental techniques for applying repeatable mechanical stimuli to intact organs and model organisms. Microfluidic platforms, a subgroup of microsystems that use liquid flow for manipulation of objects, are a promising tool for studying mechanobiology of small model organisms due to their size scale and ease of customization. In this work, we describe design considerations involved in developing a microfluidic device for studying mechanobiology. Then, focusing on worms, fruit flies, and zebrafish, we review current microfluidic platforms for mechanobiology of multicellular model organisms and their tissues and highlight research opportunities in this developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Kim
- University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Beth L Pruitt
- University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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23
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24
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Campana O, Wlodkowic D. Ecotoxicology Goes on a Chip: Embracing Miniaturized Bioanalysis in Aquatic Risk Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:932-946. [PMID: 29284083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Biological and environmental sciences are, more than ever, becoming highly dependent on technological and multidisciplinary approaches that warrant advanced analytical capabilities. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technologies are perhaps one the most groundbreaking offshoots of bioengineering, enabling design of an entirely new generation of bioanalytical instrumentation. They represent a unique approach to combine microscale engineering and physics with specific biological questions, providing technological advances that allow for fundamentally new capabilities in the spatiotemporal analysis of molecules, cells, tissues, and even small metazoan organisms. While these miniaturized analytical technologies experience an explosive growth worldwide, with a substantial promise of a direct impact on biosciences, it seems that lab-on-a-chip systems have so far escaped the attention of aquatic ecotoxicologists. In this Critical Review, potential applications of the currently existing and emerging chip-based technologies for aquatic ecotoxicology and water quality monitoring are highlighted. We also offer suggestions on how aquatic ecotoxicology can benefit from adoption of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for accelerated bioanalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Campana
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, CSIC , Puerto Real, 11519, Spain
| | - Donald Wlodkowic
- School of Science, RMIT University , Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia
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25
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Miniaturized Sensors and Actuators for Biological Studies on Small Model Organisms of Disease. ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7751-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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26
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Nady A, Peimani AR, Zoidl G, Rezai P. A microfluidic device for partial immobilization, chemical exposure and behavioural screening of zebrafish larvae. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:4048-4058. [PMID: 29068019 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00786h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish larva is an important vertebrate model for sensory-motor integration studies, genetic screening, and drug discovery because of its excellent characteristics such as optical transparency, genetic manipulability, and genetic similarity to humans. Operations such as precise manipulation of zebrafish larvae, controlled exposure to chemicals, and behavioural monitoring are of utmost importance to the abovementioned studies. In this work, a novel microfluidic device is presented to easily stabilize an individual larva's head using a microfluidic trap while leaving the majority of the body and the tail unhindered to move freely in a downstream chamber. The device is equipped with a microvalve to prevent the larva's escape from the trap and a microchannel beside the larva's head to expose it to chemicals at desired concentrations and times, while investigating multiple behaviours such as the tail, eye, and mouth movement frequencies. An in situ air bubble removal module was also incorporated to increase the yield of experiments. The functionality of our device in comparison to a conventional droplet-based technique was tested using l-arginine exposure and viability assays. We found that the larvae in the device and the droplet exhibit similar tail and eye response trends to nM-mM concentrations of l-arginine, and that the survival of the larvae is not affected by the device. However, the tail responses in the device were numerically higher than the droplet-tested larvae at nM-mM l-arginine concentrations. In the future, our device has the potential to be used for conducting simultaneous whole-brain functional imaging, upon optimized immobilization of the brain, and behavioural analysis to uncover differences between diseased and healthy states in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asal Nady
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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A perfusion incubator liver chip for 3D cell culture with application on chronic hepatotoxicity testing. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14528. [PMID: 29109520 PMCID: PMC5673965 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13848-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver chips have been developed to recapitulate in vivo physiological conditions to enhance hepatocyte functions for assessing acute responses to drugs. To develop liver chips that can assess repeated dosing chronic hepatotoxicity, we need to ensure that hepatocyte functions be maintained at constant values over two weeks in stable culture conditions of sterility, temperature, pH, fluidic-flow of culture media and drugs. We have designed a perfusion-incubator-liver-chip (PIC) for 3D cell culture, that assures a tangential flow of the media over the spheroids culture. Rat hepatocyte spheroids constrained between a cover glass and a porous-ultrathin Parylene C membrane experienced optimal mass transfer and limited shear stress from the flowing culture media; maintained cell viability over 24 days. Hepatocyte functions were significantly improved and maintained at constant values (urea, albumin synthesis, and CYP450 enzyme activities) for 14 days. The chip act as an incubator, having 5% CO2 pressure-driven culture-media flow, on-chip heater and active debubbler. It operates in a biosafety cabinet, thus minimizing risk of contamination. The chronic drug response to repeated dosing of Diclofenac and Acetaminophen evaluated in PIC were more sensitive than the static culture control.
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28
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Yu F, Zhuo S, Qu Y, Choudhury D, Wang Z, Iliescu C, Yu H. On chip two-photon metabolic imaging for drug toxicity testing. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2017; 11:034108. [PMID: 28529673 PMCID: PMC5426952 DOI: 10.1063/1.4983615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a microfluidic system suitable to be incorporated with a metabolic imaging method to monitor the drug response of cells cultured on a chip. The cells were perfusion-cultured to mimic the blood flow in vivo. Label-free optical measurements and imaging of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide fluorescence intensity and morphological changes were evaluated non-invasively. Drug responses calculated using redox ratio imaging were compared with the drug toxicity testing results obtained with a traditional well-plate system. We found that our method can accurately monitor the cell viability and drug response and that the IC50 value obtained from imaging analysis was sensitive and comparable with a commonly used cell viability assay: MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. Our method could serve as a fast, non-invasive, and reliable way for drug screening and toxicity testing as well as enabling real-time monitoring of in vitro cultured cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deepak Choudhury
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, ASTAR, 71 Nanyang Dr, Singapore, Singapore, 638075
| | - Zhiping Wang
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, ASTAR, 71 Nanyang Dr, Singapore, Singapore, 638075
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29
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Mani K, Chang Chien TC, Panigrahi B, Chen CY. Manipulation of zebrafish's orientation using artificial cilia in a microchannel with actively adaptive wall design. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36385. [PMID: 27821862 PMCID: PMC5099576 DOI: 10.1038/srep36385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is a powerful genetic model organism especially in the biomedical chapter for new drug discovery and development. The genetic toolbox which this vertebrate possesses opens a new window to investigate the etiology of human diseases with a high degree genetic similarity. Still, the requirements of laborious and time-consuming of contemporary zebrafish processing assays limit the procedure in carrying out such genetic screen at high throughput. Here, a zebrafish control scheme was initiated which includes the design and validation of a microfluidic platform to significantly increase the throughput and performance of zebrafish larvae manipulation using the concept of artificial cilia actuation. A moving wall design was integrated into this microfluidic platform first time in literature to accommodate zebrafish inside the microchannel from 1 day post-fertilization (dpf) to 6 dpf and can be further extended to 9 dpf for axial orientation control in a rotational range between 0 to 25 degrees at the minimum step of 2-degree increment in a stepwise manner. This moving wall feature was performed through the deflection of shape memory alloy wire embedded inside the microchannel controlled by the electrical waveforms with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthick Mani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Chun Chang Chien
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Bivas Panigrahi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yuan Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
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30
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Kim G, Lim J, Mo C. Applications of Microfluidics in the Agro-Food Sector: A Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.5307/jbe.2016.41.2.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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31
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Chin LK, Lee CH, Chen BC. Imaging live cells at high spatiotemporal resolution for lab-on-a-chip applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:2014-24. [PMID: 27121367 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01556a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Conventional optical imaging techniques are limited by the diffraction limit and difficult-to-image biomolecular and sub-cellular processes in living specimens. Novel optical imaging techniques are constantly evolving with the desire to innovate an imaging tool that is capable of seeing sub-cellular processes in a biological system, especially in three dimensions (3D) over time, i.e. 4D imaging. For fluorescence imaging on live cells, the trade-offs among imaging depth, spatial resolution, temporal resolution and photo-damage are constrained based on the limited photons of the emitters. The fundamental solution to solve this dilemma is to enlarge the photon bank such as the development of photostable and bright fluorophores, leading to the innovation in optical imaging techniques such as super-resolution microscopy and light sheet microscopy. With the synergy of microfluidic technology that is capable of manipulating biological cells and controlling their microenvironments to mimic in vivo physiological environments, studies of sub-cellular processes in various biological systems can be simplified and investigated systematically. In this review, we provide an overview of current state-of-the-art super-resolution and 3D live cell imaging techniques and their lab-on-a-chip applications, and finally discuss future research trends in new and breakthrough research areas of live specimen 4D imaging in controlled 3D microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lip Ket Chin
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Chau-Hwang Lee
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan. and Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan and Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10671, Taiwan
| | - Bi-Chang Chen
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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32
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Yang F, Gao C, Wang P, Zhang GJ, Chen Z. Fish-on-a-chip: microfluidics for zebrafish research. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1106-25. [PMID: 26923141 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00044d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
High-efficiency zebrafish (embryo) handling platforms are crucially needed to facilitate the deciphering of the increasingly expanding vertebrate-organism model values. However, the manipulation platforms for zebrafish are scarce and rely mainly on the conventional "static" microtiter plates or glass slides with rigid gel, which limits the dynamic, three-dimensional (3D), tissue/organ-oriented information acquisition from the intact larva with normal developmental dynamics. In addition, these routine platforms are not amenable to high-throughput handling of such swimming multicellular biological entities at the single-organism level and incapable of precisely controlling the growth microenvironment by delivering stimuli in a well-defined spatiotemporal fashion. Recently, microfluidics has been developed to address these technical challenges via tailor-engineered microscale structures or structured arrays, which integrate with or interface to functional components (e.g. imaging systems), allowing quantitative readouts of small objects (zebrafish larvae and embryos) under normal physiological conditions. Here, we critically review the recent progress on zebrafish manipulation, imaging and phenotype readouts of external stimuli using these microfluidic tools and discuss the challenges that confront these promising "fish-on-a-chip" technologies. We also provide an outlook on future potential trends in this field by combining with bionanoprobes and biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China.
| | - Chuan Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Guo-Jun Zhang
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China.
| | - Zuanguang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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Lin X, Li VWT, Chen S, Chan CY, Cheng SH, Shi P. Autonomous system for cross-organ investigation of ethanol-induced acute response in behaving larval zebrafish. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:024123. [PMID: 27158291 PMCID: PMC4833730 DOI: 10.1063/1.4946013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol is widely consumed and has been associated with various diseases in different organs. It is therefore important to study ethanol-induced responses in living organisms with the capability to address specific organs in an integrative manner. Here, we developed an autonomous system based on a series of microfluidic chips for cross-organ investigation of ethanol-induced acute response in behaving larval zebrafish. This system enabled high-throughput, gel-free, and anesthetic-free manipulation of larvae, and thus allowed real-time observation of behavioral responses, and associated physiological changes at cellular resolution within specific organs in response to acute ethanol stimuli, which would otherwise be impossible by using traditional methods for larva immobilization and orientation. Specifically, three types of chips ("motion," "lateral," and "dorsal"), based on a simple hydrodynamic design, were used to perform analysis in animal behavior, cardiac, and brain physiology, respectively. We found that ethanol affected larval zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner. The motor function of different body parts was significantly modulated by ethanol treatment, especially at a high dose of 3%. These behavioral changes were temporally associated with a slow-down of heart-beating and a stereotyped activation of certain brain regions. As we demonstrated in this proof-of-concept study, this versatile Fish-on-Chip platform could potentially be adopted for systematic cross-organ investigations involving chemical or genetic manipulations in zebrafish model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent W T Li
- Department of Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siya Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung-Yuen Chan
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
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Levario TJ, Lim B, Shvartsman SY, Lu H. Microfluidics for High-Throughput Quantitative Studies of Early Development. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2016; 18:285-309. [PMID: 26928208 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-100515-013926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Developmental biology has traditionally relied on qualitative analyses; recently, however, as in other fields of biology, researchers have become increasingly interested in acquiring quantitative knowledge about embryogenesis. Advances in fluorescence microscopy are enabling high-content imaging in live specimens. At the same time, microfluidics and automation technologies are increasing experimental throughput for studies of multicellular models of development. Furthermore, computer vision methods for processing and analyzing bioimage data are now leading the way toward quantitative biology. Here, we review advances in the areas of fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, and data analysis that are instrumental to performing high-content, high-throughput studies in biology and specifically in development. We discuss a case study of how these techniques have allowed quantitative analysis and modeling of pattern formation in the Drosophila embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Levario
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;
| | - Bomyi Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544;
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544;
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332;
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Samuel R, Stephenson R, Roy P, Pryor R, Zhou L, Bonkowsky JL, Gale BK. Microfluidic-aided genotyping of zebrafish in the first 48 h with 100% viability. Biomed Microdevices 2016; 17:43. [PMID: 25773537 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-015-9946-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper introduces an innovative method for genotyping 1-2 days old zebrafish embryos, without sacrificing the life/health of the embryos. The method utilizes microfluidic technology to extract and collect a small amount of genetic material from the chorionic fluid or fin tissue of the embryo. Then, using conventional DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and high resolution melt analysis with fluorescent DNA detection techniques, the embryo is genotyped. The chorionic fluid approach was successful 78% of the time while the fin clipping method was successful 100% of the time. Chorionic fluid was shown to only contain DNA from the embryo and not from the mother. These results suggest a novel method to genotype zebrafish embryos that can facilitate high-throughput screening, while maintaining 100% viability of the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheel Samuel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA,
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36
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Abstract
The underlying physical properties of microfluidic tools have led to new biological insights through the development of microsystems that can manipulate, mimic and measure biology at a resolution that has not been possible with macroscale tools. Microsystems readily handle sub-microlitre volumes, precisely route predictable laminar fluid flows and match both perturbations and measurements to the length scales and timescales of biological systems. The advent of fabrication techniques that do not require highly specialized engineering facilities is fuelling the broad dissemination of microfluidic systems and their adaptation to specific biological questions. We describe how our understanding of molecular and cell biology is being and will continue to be advanced by precision microfluidic approaches and posit that microfluidic tools - in conjunction with advanced imaging, bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches - will transform biology into a precision science.
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Using a Microfluidic Gradient Generator to Characterize BG-11 Medium for the Growth of Cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942. MICROMACHINES 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/mi6111454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Li Y, Yang X, Chen Z, Zhang B, Pan J, Li X, Yang F, Sun D. Comparative toxicity of lead (Pb(2+)), copper (Cu(2+)), and mixtures of lead and copper to zebrafish embryos on a microfluidic chip. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2015; 9:024105. [PMID: 25825620 PMCID: PMC4368587 DOI: 10.1063/1.4913699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Investigations were conducted to determine acute effects of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+) presented individually and collectively on zebrafish embryos. Aquatic safety testing requires a cheap, fast, and highly efficient platform for real-time evaluation of single and mixture of metal toxicity. In this study, we have developed a microfluidic system for phenotype-based evaluation of toxic effects of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+) using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The microfluidic chip is composed of a disc-shaped concentration gradient generator and 24 culture chambers, which can generate one blank solution, seven mixture concentrations, and eight single concentrations for each metal solution, thus enabling the assessment of zebrafish embryos. To test the accuracy of this new chip platform, we have examined the toxicity and teratogenicity of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+) on embryos. The individual and combined impact of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+) on zebrafish embryonic development was quantitatively assessed by recording a series of physiological indicators, such as spontaneous motion at 22 hours post fertilization (hpf), mortality at 24 hpf, heartbeat and body length at 96 hpf, etc. It was found that Pb(2+) or Cu(2+) could induce deformity and cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish embryos and the mixture could induce more severe toxicity. This chip is a multiplexed testing apparatus that allows for the examination of toxicity and teratogenicity for substances and it also can be used as a potentially cost-effective and rapid aquatic safety assessment tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiujuan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangzhou 510282, China
| | - Zuanguang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianbin Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xinchun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University , Nanning 530021, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Duanping Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510006, China
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Lin X, Wang S, Yu X, Liu Z, Wang F, Li WT, Cheng SH, Dai Q, Shi P. High-throughput mapping of brain-wide activity in awake and drug-responsive vertebrates. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:680-9. [PMID: 25406521 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01186d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The reconstruction of neural activity across complete neural circuits, or brain activity mapping, has great potential in both fundamental and translational neuroscience research. Larval zebrafish, a vertebrate model, has recently been demonstrated to be amenable to whole brain activity mapping in behaving animals. Here we demonstrate a microfluidic array system ("Fish-Trap") that enables high-throughput mapping of brain-wide activity in awake larval zebrafish. Unlike the commonly practiced larva-processing methods using a rigid gel or a capillary tube, which are laborious and time-consuming, the hydrodynamic design of our microfluidic chip allows automatic, gel-free, and anesthetic-free processing of tens of larvae for microscopic imaging with single-cell resolution. Notably, this system provides the capability to directly couple pharmaceutical stimuli with real-time recording of neural activity in a large number of animals, and the local and global effects of pharmacoactive drugs on the nervous system can be directly visualized and evaluated by analyzing drug-induced functional perturbation within or across different brain regions. Using this technology, we tested a set of neurotoxin peptides and obtained new insights into how to exploit neurotoxin derivatives as therapeutic agents. The novel and versatile "Fish-Trap" technology can be readily unitized to study other stimulus (optical, acoustic, or physical) associated functional brain circuits using similar experimental strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China 999077.
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Erickstad M, Hale LA, Chalasani SH, Groisman A. A microfluidic system for studying the behavior of zebrafish larvae under acute hypoxia. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:857-866. [PMID: 25490410 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc00717d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Oxygen is essential for metabolism of animals and is a vital component of their natural habitats. Hypoxic conditions in tissue, when oxygen levels are lower than normal, change a variety of cellular processes, while environmental hypoxia can have physiological and behavioral effects on the whole animal. Larval zebrafish respond to oxygen deprivation with a characteristic set of physiological changes and motor behaviors, making them a convenient vertebrate model to study hypoxia responses. However, to date, hypoxia studies in zebrafish are limited by the existing experimental setups, which only impose hypoxia on a scale of minutes to hours. Here, we present a microfluidic system, which makes it possible to expose spatially confined unanesthetized zebrafish larvae to a broad range of hypoxic and normoxic conditions and to switch between different oxygen concentrations in the medium around the larvae on a 2 second timescale. We used the system to observe different behavioral responses of zebrafish larvae to three levels of rapidly imposed hypoxia. Larvae increased their rate of body movements in response to the strongest hypoxia and increased their rate of pectoral fin beats in response to all levels of hypoxia. Importantly, the behavior of the larvae changed within 15 seconds of the changes in the oxygen content of the medium. The proposed experimental system can be used to study the behavior of zebrafish larvae or other aquatic organisms exposed to other water-dissolved gasses or to different temporal patterns of oxygen concentration. This system can also potentially be used for testing the effects of genetic modifications and small molecule drugs and for probing neural mechanisms underlying various behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Erickstad
- Department of Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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41
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Angione SL, Oulhen N, Brayboy LM, Tripathi A, Wessel GM. Simple perfusion apparatus for manipulation, tracking, and study of oocytes and embryos. Fertil Steril 2014; 103:281-90.e5. [PMID: 25450296 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and implement a device and protocol for oocyte analysis at a single cell level. The device must be capable of high resolution imaging, temperature control, perfusion of media, drugs, sperm, and immunolabeling reagents all at defined flow rates. Each oocyte and resultant embryo must remain spatially separated and defined. DESIGN Experimental laboratory study. SETTING University and academic center for reproductive medicine. PATIENT(S)/ANIMAL(S) Women with eggs retrieved for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, adult female FVBN and B6C3F1 mouse strains, sea stars. INTERVENTION(S) Real-time, longitudinal imaging of oocytes after fluorescent labeling, insemination, and viability tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Cell and embryo viability, immunolabeling efficiency, live cell endocytosis quantification, precise metrics of fertilization, and embryonic development. RESULT(S) Single oocytes were longitudinally imaged after significant changes in media, markers, endocytosis quantification, and development, all with supreme control by microfluidics. Cells remained viable, enclosed, and separate for precision measurements, repeatability, and imaging. CONCLUSION(S) We engineered a simple device to load, visualize, experiment, and effectively record individual oocytes and embryos without loss of cells. Prolonged incubation capabilities provide longitudinal studies without need for transfer and potential loss of cells. This simple perfusion apparatus provides for careful, precise, and flexible handling of precious samples facilitating clinical IVF approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Angione
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Lynae M Brayboy
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Anubhav Tripathi
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
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42
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Zhu F, Skommer J, Huang Y, Akagi J, Adams D, Levin M, Hall CJ, Crosier PS, Wlodkowic D. Fishing on chips: up-and-coming technological advances in analysis of zebrafish and Xenopus embryos. Cytometry A 2014; 85:921-32. [PMID: 25287981 PMCID: PMC10472801 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Biotests performed on small vertebrate model organisms provide significant investigative advantages as compared with bioassays that employ cell lines, isolated primary cells, or tissue samples. The main advantage offered by whole-organism approaches is that the effects under study occur in the context of intact physiological milieu, with all its intercellular and multisystem interactions. The gap between the high-throughput cell-based in vitro assays and low-throughput, disproportionally expensive and ethically controversial mammal in vivo tests can be closed by small model organisms such as zebrafish or Xenopus. The optical transparency of their tissues, the ease of genetic manipulation and straightforward husbandry, explain the growing popularity of these model organisms. Nevertheless, despite the potential for miniaturization, automation and subsequent increase in throughput of experimental setups, the manipulation, dispensing and analysis of living fish and frog embryos remain labor-intensive. Recently, a new generation of miniaturized chip-based devices have been developed for zebrafish and Xenopus embryo on-chip culture and experimentation. In this work, we review the critical developments in the field of Lab-on-a-Chip devices designed to alleviate the limits of traditional platforms for studies on zebrafish and clawed frog embryo and larvae. © 2014 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhu
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joanna Skommer
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yushi Huang
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jin Akagi
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dany Adams
- Department of Biology and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology and Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Chris J. Hall
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Philip S. Crosier
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Donald Wlodkowic
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
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43
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Chen CY, Cheng CM. Microfluidics expands the zebrafish potentials in pharmaceutically relevant screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2014; 3:940-5. [PMID: 24459083 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201300546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to enlarge the impact of microfluidics on the pharmaceutical industry by highlighting the reported scientific work on the synergistic relationship between zebrafish and microfluidics, and furthering that effort to shed light on how microfluidics can facilitate the use of zebrafish as a gene screening tool. Zebrafish is ranked the third most important animal model after rats and mice, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) announcement in 2003. It has become a staple for scientists to examine and subsequently begin to unravel the mystery of human diseases, and is increasingly used in toxicological studies for new drug development. The unique characteristics that this tiny fish possesses, including rapid growth rate, prodigious numbers of offspring, and eggs that develop outside the body, make it an invaluable genetic tool. Evidently, these advantages can be broadened with the addition of a properly designed microfluidic circuit. By means of the presented illustrations and demonstrated applications, the goal is to spark interest in the development of more novel microfluidic platform designs that can leverage the attributes of zebrafish and quickly come to commercial fruition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yuan Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; National Taiwan University of Science and Technology; Taipei 106 Taiwan
| | - Chao-Min Cheng
- Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems; National Tsing Hua University; Hsinchu 300 Taiwan
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology; Academia Sinica; Taipei 115 Taiwan
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44
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Li Y, Yang F, Chen Z, Shi L, Zhang B, Pan J, Li X, Sun D, Yang H. Zebrafish on a chip: a novel platform for real-time monitoring of drug-induced developmental toxicity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94792. [PMID: 24733308 PMCID: PMC3986246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmaceutical safety testing requires a cheap, fast and highly efficient platform for real-time evaluation of drug toxicity and secondary effects. In this study, we have developed a microfluidic system for phenotype-based evaluation of toxic and teratogenic effects of drugs using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae as the model organism. The microfluidic chip is composed of two independent functional units, enabling the assessment of zebrafish embryos and larvae. Each unit consists of a fluidic concentration gradient generator and a row of seven culture chambers to accommodate zebrafish. To test the accuracy of this new chip platform, we examined the toxicity and teratogenicity of an anti-asthmatic agent-aminophylline (Apl) on 210 embryos and 210 larvae (10 individuals per chamber). The effect of Apl on zebrafish embryonic development was quantitatively assessed by recording a series of physiological indicators such as heart rate, survival rate, body length and hatch rate. Most importantly, a new index called clonic convulsion rate, combined with mortality was used to evaluate the toxicities of Apl on zebrafish larvae. We found that Apl can induce deformity and cardiovascular toxicity in both zebrafish embryos and larvae. This microdevice is a multiplexed testing apparatus that allows for the examination of indexes beyond toxicity and teratogenicity at the sub-organ and cellular levels and provides a potentially cost-effective and rapid pharmaceutical safety assessment tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinbao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, JiangXi, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Laboratory Medcine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Zuanguang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZC); (HY)
| | - Lijuan Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianbin Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinchun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Duanping Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongzhi Yang
- The third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZC); (HY)
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45
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Integrated chip-based physiometer for automated fish embryo toxicity biotests in pharmaceutical screening and ecotoxicology. Cytometry A 2014; 85:537-47. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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46
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Zheng C, Zhou H, Liu X, Pang Y, Zhang B, Huang Y. Fish in chips: an automated microfluidic device to study drug dynamics in vivo using zebrafish embryos. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:981-4. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc47285j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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47
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Hamon M, Hong JW. New tools and new biology: recent miniaturized systems for molecular and cellular biology. Mol Cells 2013; 36:485-506. [PMID: 24305843 PMCID: PMC3887968 DOI: 10.1007/s10059-013-0333-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in applied physics and chemistry have led to the development of novel microfluidic systems. Microfluidic systems allow minute amounts of reagents to be processed using μm-scale channels and offer several advantages over conventional analytical devices for use in biological sciences: faster, more accurate and more reproducible analytical performance, reduced cell and reagent consumption, portability, and integration of functional components in a single chip. In this review, we introduce how microfluidics has been applied to biological sciences. We first present an overview of the fabrication of microfluidic systems and describe the distinct technologies available for biological research. We then present examples of microsystems used in biological sciences, focusing on applications in molecular and cellular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Hamon
- Materials Research and Education Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849,
USA
| | - Jong Wook Hong
- Materials Research and Education Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849,
USA
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-741,
Korea
- Department of Bionano Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791,
Korea
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48
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Abstract
With the experimental tools and knowledge that have accrued from a long history of reductionist biology, we can now start to put the pieces together and begin to understand how biological systems function as an integrated whole. Here, we describe how microfabricated tools have demonstrated promise in addressing experimental challenges in throughput, resolution, and sensitivity to support systems-based approaches to biological understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhan
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Loice Chingozha
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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49
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50
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Stirman JN, Harker B, Lu H, Crane MM. Animal microsurgery using microfluidics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2013; 25:24-9. [PMID: 24484877 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2013.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Small multicellular genetic organisms form a central part of modern biological research. Using these small organisms provides significant advantages in genetic tractability, manipulation, lifespan and cost. Although the small size is generally advantageous, it can make procedures such as surgeries both time consuming and labor intensive. Over the past few years there have been dramatic improvements in microfluidic technologies that enable significant improvements in microsurgery and interrogation of small multicellular model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey N Stirman
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bethany Harker
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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