Microfluidic Platforms for Quantitative Biology Studies in Model Organisms

Abstract

The use of lab-on-chip tools has been adopted in a wide variety of scientific fields. Hundreds of applications that speed up, miniaturize, or enable otherwise unfeasible assays have emerged in the last couple of decades [1,2]. The microfluidic toolbox offers several advantages which make it a very attractive resource for biological studies: reduced sample volume, control of spatiotemporal chemical compositions, streamlined assays, precise and predictable fluid flow regimes, portability, and integration with sensors, actuators, controllers, and automation systems [1][2][3]. The main drive of the field has thus far focused on the development of microfluidic tools that replace conventional methods with proof-ofprinciple applications. However, widespread adoption of these technologies for fundamental research is still in progress. Microfluidics has nonetheless had a significant impact in fundamental biological studies with model organisms [4,5]. In this article, we provide an overview of the current state of the field, the impacts of microfluidics in model organism research, and the outlook, challenges, and opportunities for the future.

Microfluidic technologies to engineer mesenchymal stem cell aggregates—applications and benefits

“…Using microfluidics for the formation of cell aggregates would result in the control of cell numbers and thus the rate of oxygen needed for the cells (Wu et al, 2008;Kashaninejad et al, 2016). Organoid-on-a-chip and body-on-achip are new technologies to monitor the kinetics of tumor progression and metastasis in vitro (Skardal et al, 2016;Porto et al, 2016;Jackson andLu, 2016, Marsano et al, 2016;Ashammakhi et al, 2018). Examples of microfluidic devices are shown in Fig.…”

Microfluidics for mechanobiology of model organisms

“…Many microfluidic devices have been used to study other aspects of model organisms, but the potential for using these devices to study mechanobiology is not yet fully realized. For reviews on microfluidic devices for sorting and imaging of multicellular organisms, readers are referred to works by Ben-Yakar, Chronis, and Lu (2009), Crane, Chung, Stirman, and Lu (2010), Hwang and Lu (2013), Sivagnanam and Gijs (2013), and Porto, Rouse, San-Miguel, and Lu (2016).…”

Microfluidics on the fly: Inexpensive rapid fabrication of thermally laminated microfluidic devices for live imaging and multimodal perturbations of multicellular systems

“…Microfluidic devices are used across disciplines because of their versatility in providing controllable microenvironments. 1 For example, biomedical researchers continuously adapt microfluidic technologies to study single cells, tissues, and whole organisms. [2][3][4][5] In particular, there has been a significant increase in the number of studies using micro-and mesofluidic devices in multicellular eukaryotic model organisms such as nematodes, zebrafish, and fruit flies.…”