Title: A cell preparation system for realising automatic zebra fish cell injection

Authors: Cong Lu; James K. Mills

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G8, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G8, Canada

Abstract: Research in genetics, cancer treatment and drug therapy requires that large numbers of cells be injected with drugs or DNA to investigate cell behaviour. Traditionally, this task has been performed manually. The cell preparation stage, which includes cell separation, cell transfer, cell patterning and cell release is very time consuming. In order to increase the throughput of the cell injection process, a system that can replicate the actions of technicians is required. To prepare the cells for injection, cells must be separated and patterned without damage. This paper presents a new design to solve this problem. A cell preparation system has been designed, utilising FLOW 3D simulations, to separate and pattern cells for injection. Flow simulations of suspended cells and corresponding experiments have demonstrated that the proposed system is capable of successfully carrying out cell separation, cell patterning and cell transfer, enhancing the speed and throughput of this important laboratory technique.

Keywords: automatic cell preparation; cell aspiration; cell separation; cell patterning; cell injection; flow simulation; suspended cells; cell transfer; automatic injection; zebra fish cells.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMA.2012.048185

International Journal of Mechatronics and Automation, 2012 Vol.2 No.2, pp.93 - 102

Received: 14 Nov 2011
Accepted: 28 Feb 2012
Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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