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Yuan H, Yuan W, Duan S, Jiao K, Zhang Q, Lim EG, Chen M, Zhao C, Pan P, Liu X, Song P. Microfluidic-Assisted Caenorhabditis elegans Sorting: Current Status and Future Prospects. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2023; 4:0011. [PMID: 37287459 PMCID: PMC10243201 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been a popular model organism for several decades since its first discovery of the huge research potential for modeling human diseases and genetics. Sorting is an important means of providing stage- or age-synchronized worm populations for many worm-based bioassays. However, conventional manual techniques for C. elegans sorting are tedious and inefficient, and commercial complex object parametric analyzer and sorter is too expensive and bulky for most laboratories. Recently, the development of lab-on-a-chip (microfluidics) technology has greatly facilitated C. elegans studies where large numbers of synchronized worm populations are required and advances of new designs, mechanisms, and automation algorithms. Most previous reviews have focused on the development of microfluidic devices but lacked the summaries and discussion of the biological research demands of C. elegans, and are hard to read for worm researchers. We aim to comprehensively review the up-to-date microfluidic-assisted C. elegans sorting developments from several angles to suit different background researchers, i.e., biologists and engineers. First, we highlighted the microfluidic C. elegans sorting devices' advantages and limitations compared to the conventional commercialized worm sorting tools. Second, to benefit the engineers, we reviewed the current devices from the perspectives of active or passive sorting, sorting strategies, target populations, and sorting criteria. Third, to benefit the biologists, we reviewed the contributions of sorting to biological research. We expect, by providing this comprehensive review, that each researcher from this multidisciplinary community can effectively find the needed information and, in turn, facilitate future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sixuan Duan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keran Jiao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry,
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Eng Gee Lim
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Min Chen
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chun Zhao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peng Pan
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pengfei Song
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Lockery SR, Pop S, Jussila B. Microinjection in C. elegans by direct penetration of elastomeric membranes. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:014103. [PMID: 36647539 PMCID: PMC9840533 DOI: 10.1063/5.0130806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The nematode worm C. elegans is widely used in basic and translational research. The creation of transgenic strains by injecting DNA constructs into the worm's gonad is an essential step in many C. elegans research projects. This paper describes the fabrication and use of a minimalist microfluidic chip for performing microinjections. The worm is immobilized in a tight-fitting microchannel, one sidewall of which is a thin elastomeric membrane through which the injection pipet penetrates to reach the worm. The pipet is neither broken nor clogged by passing through the membrane, and the membrane reseals when the pipet is withdrawn. Rates of survival and transgenesis are similar to those in the conventional method. Novice users found injections using the device easier to learn than the conventional method. The principle of direct penetration of elastomeric membranes is adaptable to microinjections in a wide range of organisms including cells, embryos, and other small animal models. It could, therefore, lead to a new generation of microinjection systems for basic, translational, and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stelian Pop
- InVivo Biosystems, Inc., Eugene, Oregon 97402, USA
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Läubli NF, Gerlt MS, Wüthrich A, Lewis RTM, Shamsudhin N, Kutay U, Ahmed D, Dual J, Nelson BJ. Embedded Microbubbles for Acoustic Manipulation of Single Cells and Microfluidic Applications. Anal Chem 2021; 93:9760-9770. [PMID: 34228921 PMCID: PMC8295982 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Acoustically excited microstructures have demonstrated significant potential for small-scale biomedical applications by overcoming major microfluidic limitations. Recently, the application of oscillating microbubbles has demonstrated their superiority over acoustically excited solid structures due to their enhanced acoustic streaming at low input power. However, their limited temporal stability hinders their direct applicability for industrial or clinical purposes. Here, we introduce the embedded microbubble, a novel acoustofluidic design based on the combination of solid structures (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) and microbubbles (air-filled cavity) to combine the benefits of both approaches while minimizing their drawbacks. We investigate the influence of various design parameters and geometrical features through numerical simulations and experimentally evaluate their manipulation capabilities. Finally, we demonstrate the capabilities of our design for microfluidic applications by investigating its mixing performance as well as through the controlled rotational manipulation of individual HeLa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino F. Läubli
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Molecular
Neuroscience Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael S. Gerlt
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics, Institute of Mechanical Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Wüthrich
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Renard T. M. Lewis
- Department
of Biology, ETH Zurich, Institute of Biochemistry, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Naveen Shamsudhin
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Kutay
- Department
of Biology, ETH Zurich, Institute of Biochemistry, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Dual
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics, Institute of Mechanical Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bradley J. Nelson
- Department
of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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