Microfluidic devices for embryonic and larval zebrafish studies

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.

Evaluating Nanoparticles in Preclinical Research Using Microfluidic Systems

“…Finally, NP uptake and toxicity profile could also be evaluated at small organism level using microfluidics. Currently microfluidic systems have been used to culture various small organisms such as zebrafish [139,140], C. elegans [141,142] and fruit flies [143]. Despite that some of these models have been applied for chemical evaluations [144,145,146], few have been adopted in NP evaluation.…”

Recent Progress in Lab-On-a-Chip Systems for the Monitoring of Metabolites for Mammalian and Microbial Cell Research

“…Embryonic development has been studied using LOC systems which targeted glucose, lactate, and pyruvate metabolites of mouse and bovine embryos [102,158,159]. There are also other LOC devices used for the morphological characterisations of Drosophila [160,161], Caenorhabditis elegans [162,163,164], zebra fish ( Danio rerio ) [165], and plant systems such as Arabidopsis thaliana [166].…”

A millifluidic chip for cultivation of fish embryos and toxicity testing fabricated by 3D printing technology

“…13 Microuidics for zebrash, also called sh-on-a-chip technology, 14 can be designed for embryonic 15,16 and larval zebrash studies. 17 Microuidic channels for embryonic studies (the embryo is enclosed inside the embryonic envelopechorion) have larger dimensions compared to microuidics systems designed for zebrash larvae (zebrash developmental stage aer hatching with a similar body shape to adult sh). Micro-uidic chips adjusted to embryos can manipulate and treat the embryos as small rigid spherical objects (sh eggs).…”