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Microfluidic Devices for Imaging Trafficking Events In Vivo Using Genetic Model Organisms

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Book cover Exocytosis and Endocytosis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1174))

Abstract

Miniature devices are powerful new tools that can be used to address multiple questions in biology especially in investigating an individual cell or organism. The primary step forward has been the ease of soft lithography fabrication which has allowed researchers from different disciplines, with incomplete technical knowledge, to develop and use new devices for their own research problems. In this chapter, we describe a simple fabrication process that will allow investigators to make microfluidic devices for in vivo imaging studies using genetic model organisms such as C. elegans, Drosophila larvae, and zebrafish larvae. This microfluidic technology enables detailed studies on multiple cellular and subcellular phenomena including intracellular vesicle trafficking in living organisms over different developmental stages in an anesthetic free environment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Krishanu Ray (DBS-TIFR) for providing us with Drosophila stocks, Shikha Ahlawat for jsIs609 imaging, Tarjani Agarwal for maintaining a Drosophila cage, and Dr. Vatsala Thirumalai (NCBS-TIFR) and Surya Prakash for providing us with zebrafish larvae. This work was funded by the DBT postdoctoral fellowship (S. M.), DST Fast-track scheme (S. M.), and a DBT grant (S. P. K.). S. P. K. is an HHMI International early career scientist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Sudip Mondal

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, DBS-TIFR, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai, 400005, India

    Sandhya P. Koushika

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  1. Sudip Mondal
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  2. Sandhya P. Koushika
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Correspondence to Sandhya P. Koushika .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Andrei I. Ivanov

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Mondal, S., Koushika, S.P. (2014). Microfluidic Devices for Imaging Trafficking Events In Vivo Using Genetic Model Organisms. In: Ivanov, A. (eds) Exocytosis and Endocytosis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1174. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0944-5_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0944-5_26

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0943-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0944-5

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