Fabrication and demonstration of a microfluidic device toward a microfluidic-based microinjection for Cx. pipiens embryo.

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 390 million people each year have reported being affected by mosquito borne diseases. In order to prevent epidemics of fatal diseases, altering mosquitoes through transfection, by inserting biological materials into vector embryos, deserves further development. The current transfection method is performed manually by a trained operator. However, the process is expensive and time-consuming, with a large variation in success rates dependent on operator skill. This research focuses on minimizing these limitations through the design and fabrication of a microfluidic system for Cx. pipiens mosquito embryo microinjection. In order to construct a microfluidic system with simple and low-cost fabrication processes, a 3D printer is employed. Fabrication processes were successfully developed and the device operation was validated. The microfluidic device shows feasibility toward microinjection for Cx. Pipiens embryos.