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Published on: January 21, 2014
A system for high-speed microinjection of adherent cells
Wenhui Wang1, Yu Sun, Ming Zhang
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. wenhui.wang@canterbury.ac.nz
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|December 3, 2008
Summary
A new semi-automated microrobotic system enables efficient injection of flat, irregular adherent cells. This technology improves cell injection speed and success rates for large-scale cellular studies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Robotics
Background:
- Adherent cells present unique challenges for microinjection due to their flat and irregular morphology, unlike spherical embryos or oocytes.
- Traditional microinjection methods for adherent cells can be labor-intensive, operator-dependent, and prone to fatigue, limiting throughput.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a semi-automated microrobotic system for high-throughput, precise microinjection of adherent cells.
- To overcome the morphological challenges posed by adherent cells for efficient and reliable cellular manipulation.
Main Methods:
- The system integrates computer vision microscopy with coordinated motion control of a 3-degrees-of-freedom microrobot and a precision XY stage.
- Operator intervention is minimized to selecting injection sites via mouse clicks, with the system automating the injection process.
Main Results:
- The microrobotic system achieved an injection speed of 25 endothelial cells per minute.
- High success rates (82.4%) and survival rates (95.7%) were demonstrated across 1012 injected cells.
- The system exhibited consistent performance, independent of operator skill and resistant to human fatigue.
Conclusions:
- This semi-automated microrobotic system offers a practical solution for injecting large numbers of adherent cells.
- The technology facilitates large-scale cellular studies, enabling the investigation of cellular responses to foreign molecules with improved efficiency and reliability.
