Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo

Abstract The microinjection of Zebrafish embryos is significant to life science and biomedical research. In this article, a novel automated system is developed for cell microinjection. A sophisticated microfluidic chip is designed to transport, hold, and inject cells continuously. For the first time...

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Main Authors: Xiangyu Guo, Antian Zhao, Youchao Zhang, Huanyu Jiang, Longhua Tang, Bo Lu, Yibin Ying, Mingchuan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-02-01
Series:Microsystems & Nanoengineering
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00809-y
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author Xiangyu Guo
Antian Zhao
Youchao Zhang
Huanyu Jiang
Longhua Tang
Bo Lu
Yibin Ying
Mingchuan Zhou
author_facet Xiangyu Guo
Antian Zhao
Youchao Zhang
Huanyu Jiang
Longhua Tang
Bo Lu
Yibin Ying
Mingchuan Zhou
author_sort Xiangyu Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The microinjection of Zebrafish embryos is significant to life science and biomedical research. In this article, a novel automated system is developed for cell microinjection. A sophisticated microfluidic chip is designed to transport, hold, and inject cells continuously. For the first time, a microinjector with microforce perception is proposed and integrated within the enclosed microfluidic chip to judge whether cells have been successfully punctured. The deep learning model is employed to detect the yolk center of zebrafish embryos and locate the position of the injection needle within the yolk, which enables enhancing the precision of cell injection. A prototype is fabricated to achieve automatic batch microinjection. Experimental results demonstrated that the injection efficiency is about 20 seconds per cell. Cell puncture success rate and cell survival rate are 100% and 84%, respectively. Compared to manual operation, this proposed system improves cell operation efficiency and cell survival rate. The proposed microinjection system has the potential to greatly reduce the workload of the experimenters and shorten the relevant study period.
format Article
id doaj-art-1f4a58f6394a46d4877a711ea3d188cc
institution DOAJ
issn 2055-7434
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Microsystems & Nanoengineering
spelling doaj-art-1f4a58f6394a46d4877a711ea3d188cc2025-08-20T03:10:54ZengNature Publishing GroupMicrosystems & Nanoengineering2055-74342025-02-0111111310.1038/s41378-024-00809-yDesign and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryoXiangyu Guo0Antian Zhao1Youchao Zhang2Huanyu Jiang3Longhua Tang4Bo Lu5Yibin Ying6Mingchuan Zhou7Robotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityRobotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityRobotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityRobotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityRobotics and Microsystems Center, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow UniversityRobotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityRobotic Micro-nano Manipulation Lab, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract The microinjection of Zebrafish embryos is significant to life science and biomedical research. In this article, a novel automated system is developed for cell microinjection. A sophisticated microfluidic chip is designed to transport, hold, and inject cells continuously. For the first time, a microinjector with microforce perception is proposed and integrated within the enclosed microfluidic chip to judge whether cells have been successfully punctured. The deep learning model is employed to detect the yolk center of zebrafish embryos and locate the position of the injection needle within the yolk, which enables enhancing the precision of cell injection. A prototype is fabricated to achieve automatic batch microinjection. Experimental results demonstrated that the injection efficiency is about 20 seconds per cell. Cell puncture success rate and cell survival rate are 100% and 84%, respectively. Compared to manual operation, this proposed system improves cell operation efficiency and cell survival rate. The proposed microinjection system has the potential to greatly reduce the workload of the experimenters and shorten the relevant study period.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00809-y
spellingShingle Xiangyu Guo
Antian Zhao
Youchao Zhang
Huanyu Jiang
Longhua Tang
Bo Lu
Yibin Ying
Mingchuan Zhou
Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
Microsystems & Nanoengineering
title Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
title_full Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
title_fullStr Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
title_full_unstemmed Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
title_short Design and developing a robot-assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
title_sort design and developing a robot assisted cell batch microinjection system for zebrafish embryo
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00809-y
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