A microfluidic device for automated, high-speed microinjection of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

This paper reports a novel microfluidic worm immobilization device that enables, for the first time, automated, high-speed microinjection of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The microfluidic device, integrated with an automated robotic system, is capable of sequentially loading, immobilizing, injecting, and sorting C. elegans with minimal human intervention. Using the device, we demonstrate an injection speed of 6.6 worm/min and a pre-sorting success rate of 77.5% (post-sorting: 100%), both much higher than the performance of manual operation (speed: 1 worm per 4 min; success rate: ~30%).