The authors would like to thank David Langenau for generously providing aquarium space; Eric Stone, John C. Moore and Qin Tang for help with zebrafish maintenance and reagents, and Anne Robertson and Elliott Hagedorn from Leonard Zon&#39;s lab for procuring the zebrafish strain used here. They would also like to thank Octavio Hurtado for advice on photolithographic techniques. FE was funded by Fellowships from Shriner&#39;s Hospital for Children and the American Australian Association. This work was funded by NIH grant GM92804.

Microinjection of larvae was approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Subcommittee on Research Animal Care under Protocol 2011N000127.
1. Device Fabrication
NOTE: All computer assisted drawing (CAD) files used to design photolithography masks described here (Figure 1) are available for download. See Table of Materials for links.
<ol>
	<li>Fabricate the master mold wafer in a Class 1,000 clean room using standard photolithographi...

<ol>
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(119), (2017).</li><li>Shao, G., Wu, J., Cai, Z., Wang, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fabrication+of+elastomeric+high-aspect-ratio+microstructures+using+polydimethylsiloxane+(PDMS)+double+casting+technique.">Fabrication of elastomeric high-aspect-ratio microstructures using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) double casting technique.</a> Sens Actuators A Phys. 178, 230-236 (2012).</li><li>Bhuiyan, M. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acinetobacter+baumannii+phenylacetic+acid+metabolism+influences+infection+outcome+through+a+direct+effect+on+neutrophil+chemotaxis.">Acinetobacter baumannii phenylacetic acid metabolism influences infection outcome through a direct effect on neutrophil chemotaxis.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 113 (34), 9599-9604 (2016).</li><li>Henry, K. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PhagoSight:+an+open-source+MATLAB&#174;+package+for+the+analysis+of+fluorescent+neutrophil+and+macrophage+migration+in+a+zebrafish+model.">PhagoSight: an open-source MATLAB&#174; package for the analysis of fluorescent neutrophil and macrophage migration in a zebrafish model.</a> PloS one. 8 (8), e72636 (2013).</li><li>Kimmel, C. B., Ballard, W. W., Kimmel, S. R., Ullmann, B., Schilling, T. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stages+of+embryonic+development+of+the+zebrafish.">Stages of embryonic development of the zebrafish.</a> Dev Dynam. 203 (3), 253-310 (1995).</li><li>Hemmil&#228;, S., Cauich-Rodr&#237;guez, J. 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J., Chen, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fish-on-a-chip:+microfluidics+for+zebrafish+research.">Fish-on-a-chip: microfluidics for zebrafish research.</a> Lab Chip. 16 (7), 1106-1125 (2016).</li><li>Wielhouwer, E. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+embryo+development+in+a+microfluidic+flow-through+system.">Zebrafish embryo development in a microfluidic flow-through system.</a> Lab Chip. 11 (10), 1815-1824 (2011).</li><li>Shen, Y. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+student+team+in+a+University+of+Michigan+biomedical+engineering+design+course+constructs+a+microfluidic+bioreactor+for+studies+of+zebrafish+development.">A student team in a University of Michigan biomedical engineering design course constructs a microfluidic bioreactor for studies of zebrafish development.</a> Zebrafish. 6 (2), 201-213 (2009).</li><li>Li, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zebrafish+on+a+chip:+a+novel+platform+for+real-time+monitoring+of+drug-induced+developmental+toxicity.">Zebrafish on a chip: a novel platform for real-time monitoring of drug-induced developmental toxicity.</a> PLoS One. 9 (4), e94792 (2014).</li><li>Akagi, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Miniaturized+embryo+array+for+automated+trapping,+immobilization+and+microperfusion+of+zebrafish+embryos.">Miniaturized embryo array for automated trapping, immobilization and microperfusion of zebrafish embryos.</a> PLoS One. 7 (5), e36630 (2012).</li><li>Akagi, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fish+on+chips:+Microfluidic+living+embryo+array+for+accelerated+in+vivo+angiogenesis+assays.">Fish on chips: Microfluidic living embryo array for accelerated in vivo angiogenesis assays.</a> Sens Actuators B Chem. 189, 11-20 (2013).</li><li>Lin, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+mapping+of+brain-wide+activity+in+awake+and+drug-responsive+vertebrates.">High-throughput mapping of brain-wide activity in awake and drug-responsive vertebrates.</a> Lab Chip. 15 (3), 680-689 (2015).</li><li>Noori, A., Selvaganapathy, P. 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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Here, we describe the use of devices we recently developed to facilitate 2 dpf zebrafish microinjection5, and introduce a simple agarose-free mounting device for convenient imaging of embryos. These tools highlight the utility of photolithographic techniques for fabrication of devices useful for zebrafish techniques.
We have found MSA devices particularly useful for injection of cells or particles prone to aggregation within the microinjection needle, such as fungal con...

Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model for many fields, from studies of fundamental developmental biology to large-scale genetic and chemical screens1,2. Routine genetic manipulations, such as gene overexpression, knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, and transgenesis rely on microinjection of genetic material into the single-cell zygote, which has led to the development of simple, easy-to-use, commercially available tools for orienting and stabilizing eggs for injection3. Other approaches, such as transplantation and infection, often require microinjection into later stage embryos and larvae using larger gauge capillary needles4. However, use of larger gauge needles presents significant technical challenges, as it is more difficult to penetrate the target tissue without pushing or rolling the embryo. Under these conditions, obtaining the appropriate water tension required to stabilize the embryo while avoiding drying during the procedure is difficult, and embryos may not be ideally oriented for injection into the target tissue.
Following microinjection, it is often useful to screen injected embryos to select those that have been successfully injected, and to capture images of the initial time point. To address these challenges, we have developed a range of microstructured devices that help to stabilize 2 dpf embryos in various orientations both for microinjection5, and for rapid image-based screening post-injection.
To obtain sufficient structural resolution in these devices, we utilized photolithographic techniques. Commonly used in microelectronic industries and more recently extrapolated to microfluidic fabrication, these approaches can achieve vertical structures ranging from 1-1,000 &#181;m, a scale well suited to manipulation of zebrafish embryos and larvae. All devices were fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is cheap, physically robust, biologically inert, and transparent.
Microstructured surface arrays (MSAs) were formatted as blocks of PDMS with a patterned top surface, analogous to the simple channels in agarose blocks commonly used for egg microinjection. For post-injection screening, 6 imaging devices can be arrayed in a standard glass-bottomed 6-well plate. These devices are designed for easy loading of embryos, while the unloading procedure conveniently allows rescue of specific embryos, facilitating image-based screening approaches in a more user-friendly manner than those devices previously developed by the Beebe laboratory6.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Dow Corning Sylgard 184&#160; Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)&#160;</td>
			<td>Ellsworth Adhsives</td>
			<td>184 SIL ELAST KIT 0.5KG</td>
			<td>For casting the devices. Kit includes PDMS monomer and Initiator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Low gelling temperature agarose</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A9414-10G</td>
			<td>For casting agarose devices</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PFDTS silane</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>448931-10G</td>
			<td>For casting of negative PDMS molds</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tricaine (MS-222)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>E10521-10G</td>
			<td>To anesthetize&#160; zebrafish&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rhodamine Dextran 70,000 Da</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>D1818</td>
			<td>To trace microinjections</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leukotriene B4 (LTB4)</td>
			<td>Cayman Chemicals</td>
			<td>20110</td>
			<td>Neutrophil chemoattractant</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-Formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>F3506-50MG</td>
			<td>Neutrophil chemoattractant</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 cm Petri dish</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>08-757-148</td>
			<td>For Casting from the master wafer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass-bottom 6-well plates</td>
			<td>MatTek</td>
			<td>P06G-0-20-F</td>
			<td>For imaging devices</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Borosilicate glass microcapillaries</td>
			<td>World Scientific Instruments</td>
			<td>TW-100-4</td>
			<td>For microinjection needles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transfer pipettes</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z350796</td>
			<td>For transferring zebrafish embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microloader tips</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>E5242956003</td>
			<td>For loading the microinjection needles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Harris Uni-Core 1.5 mm punch</td>
			<td>Ted Pella Inc.</td>
			<td>15111-15</td>
			<td>To punch ports in PDMS imaging devices</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>No.&#160;11 Scalpel</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>10011-00</td>
			<td>For cutting PDMS&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont No. 5 Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11252-10</td>
			<td>For dechorionating embryos and breaking microinjection needle tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Marzhauser Micromanipulator</td>
			<td>ASI&#160;</td>
			<td>MM33-R</td>
			<td>For manipulating microinjection needle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnetic stand</td>
			<td>MSC</td>
			<td>SPI - 87242624</td>
			<td>For mounting micromanipulator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MPPI-3 Picopump controller</td>
			<td>ASI</td>
			<td>MPPI-3</td>
			<td>To control microinjection volume and timing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS inverted fluorescent microscope</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>EVOS FL</td>
			<td>To image injected embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>SMZ745</td>
			<td>For visualizing microinjecion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AutoCAD software</td>
			<td>Autodesk</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Download AutoCAD files from: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4282853 and on the ZFIN community protocols wiki page: https://wiki.zfin.org/display/prot/ZFIN+ Protocol+Wiki &#160;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microstructured devices for optimized microinjection and imaging of zebrafish larvae

Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model of various human diseases and a useful tool for an increasing range of experimental studies, spanning fundamental developmental biology through to large-scale genetic and chemical screens. However, many experiments, especially those related to infection and xenograft models, rely on microinjection and imaging of embryos and larvae, which are laborious techniques that require skill and expertise. To improve the precision and throughput of current microinjection techniques, we developed a series of microstructured devices to orient and stabilize zebrafish embryos at 2 days post fertilization (dpf) in ventral, dorsal, or lateral orientation prior to the procedure. To aid in the imaging of embryos, we also designed a simple device with channels that orient 4 zebrafish laterally in parallel against a glass cover slip. Together, the tools that we present here demonstrate the effectiveness of photolithographic approaches to generate useful devices for the optimization of zebrafish techniques.

The approach described here demonstrates the design (Figure 1) and fabrication of devices for use with 2 dpf zebrafish, using photolithographic (Figure 2) and soft-lithographic (Figure 3) techniques. This method allows rapid testing of many design iterations and modifications, and alterations and optimization of microstructure dimensions for use with zebrafish at other stages of development may exten...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microstructured Devices for Optimized Microinjection and Imaging of Zebrafish Larvae at JoVE.com

Microstructured Devices for Optimized Microinjection and Imaging of Zebrafish Larvae

Microinjection of zebrafish embryos and larvae is a crucial but challenging technique used in many zebrafish models. Here, we present a range of microscale tools to aid in the stabilization and orientation of zebrafish for both microinjection and imaging.

Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful model of various human diseases and a useful tool for an increasing range of experimental studies, spanning ...

The overall goal of this methodology is to make microinjection of zerbrafish larvae easier and more accurate. This method helps researchers using zebrafish model systems to immobilize zebrafish larvae in specific orientations in large arrays. The technique allows for easier access to specific tissues for microinjection and imaging, and is very effective when large numbers of larvae are required for applications like infection or xenograft cancer models.My fabrication strategies in zebrafish models are highly complementary. One is man-made and simple. The other one is live and complex.Both share the same size scale. They are both transparent. And both enable observations at single-cell resolution.As you show here, they can be easily combined, and they could have applications to the study of virtually any major disease. After preparing a PDMS block in a Petri dish covered in a thin film of E-3, according to the text protocol, use a transfer pipet to transfer the required number of embryos onto the surface of the PDMS block. Using a hair loop or similar tool, push the embryos into the microstructure divots, particularly for dorsal and ventral orientations.When loading larvae into the divots, it's important to have enough water covering the PDMS block to allow easy manipulation. It's also important to push them into the divots so that they remain in place during the injection. To orient zebrafish on microstructure channels previously prepared according to the text protocol, use a transfer pipet to draw E-3 off the patterned PDMS block.The level of E-3 should drop below the edge of the block, but still be present in the reservoir and channels, and a thin layer remains on the PDMS. Using a transfer pipet, transfer 10 anesthetized embryos into the reservoir, being careful not to overflow the edges. Using a hair loop, manipulate each embryo into the funnel head, first at the entrance of the appropriate channel, ensuring that the embryo has the appropriate orientation as it enters the channel.Then, use a hair loop to slide each embryo down the channel, until it reaches the orienting microfeatures in the channel walls that keep it in place. Following the preparation of microinjection needles and microinjection solution, use a finely tapered pipet tip to load five microliters of the solution into the needle. Mount the needle into a micromanipulator mounted on a magnetic stand, and connect it to a PICO pump microinjector.Then, use forceps to break the tip of a needle at a 45 degree angle by pinching the tapered tip. Adjust the injection bolus size to one nanoliter by adjusting the injection time on the PICO pump controller. Adjust the angle of the microinjection needle on the micromanipulation controller, beginning with 45 degrees with the needle parallel to the length of the embryo.A steeper angle may be used to minimize lateral movement of the embryo during the microinjection. Controlling the Petri dish with the left hand, and the need micromanipulator with the right, bring the needle as close as possible to the intended site of microinjection, such as the otic vesicle. Using the micromanipulation controller, insert the needle into the target tissue, and use the PICO pump foot switch to inject the preset volume.If the tissue resists penetration, gently tap the micromanipulation controller knob. To release the embryos, use a transfer pipet to flow E-3 over the surface from top to bottom, or by swirling the dish such that the embryos are released into the surrounding E-3. Transfer the embryos to a recovery dish of E-3 without MS-222.To screen the embryos using the PDMS device in the wells of a six well plate, use a 1, 000 microliter pipet or a narrow-tipped transfer pipet to prime the device by flowing E-3 through the port. Use E-3 and MS-222 to fill the well until the device is covered. Then, use a transfer pipet to deliver four previously injected embryos into each well.Using a hair loop or similar tool, position the embryos at the entrances of the imaging channels in the desired orientation, and partially push them into the device. This will help draw them into the device evenly. Using a 1, 000 microliter pipet or transfer pipet, draw E-3 through the device from the port until the embryos are drawn into the channels in the correct orientation for imaging.Transfer the well plate to an inverted fluorescent microscope. To image the embryos, adjust the magnification by selecting the appropriate lens, such as 10x for imaging zebrafish neturaohil migration. Adjust the light source intensity and exposure time for each channel, so that each signal is clear, but not saturated.Finally, capture images for each fluorescent and transmitted channel. Using the microstructured channel device to stabilize embryos in the lateral orientation, the ability of neutrophils to respond to the standard chemoattractants fMLP and LTB4 microinjected into the otic vesicles, of two days post-fertilization zebrafish embryos was tested. To visualize neutrophil recruitment, injections were traced with high molecular weight rhodamine dextran, and performed in transgenic embryos with green fluorescent neutrophils.Uninjected embryos and embryos injected with rhodamine alone were used as negative controls. Following microinjection, embryos were transferred into the imaging channel device and imaged using an EVOS fluorescent microscope at 30 minutes and five hours post injection. As expected, a small number of fluorescent neutrophils were recruited to the mock injected otic vesicle at the early time point, likely due to damaged mediated recruitment.Interestingly, the rhodamine dextran tracer was observed to accumulate in the otoliths during the experiment. For both chemoattractants, neutrophils were recruited in higher numbers, particularly in response to LTB4. Once mastered, this technique can greatly improve the speed and accuracy of zebrafish microinjection.Development of this technique was driven by specific challenges in our lab. We refined this approach to fit the needs of our projects on fungal infection and tumor xenografts in zebrafish models. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to use microstructured surface arrays for zebrafish microinjection and for extended live imaging.

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Developmental Biology

9.4K Views.  Massachusetts General Hospital–Harvard Medical School–Shriners Burns Hospital. The overall goal of this methodology is to make microinjection of zerbrafish larvae easier and more accurate. This method helps researchers using zebrafish model systems to immobilize zebrafish larvae in specific orientations in large arrays. The technique allows for easier access to specific tissues for microinjection and imaging, and is very effective when large numbers of larvae are required for applications like infection or xenograft cancer models.My fabrication strategies in zebr...