Integrated Microfluidic Platform for Longitudinal Imaging, Functional Assays, and Downstream Proteomics in C. elegans.

ABSTRACT: Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used model organism in developmental biology, neurobiology, and host-pathogen research. However, existing approaches for long-term, high-content imaging of individual worms are constrained by stress-inducing immobilization and fragmented observational workflows. Here, a microfluidic platform is introduced that enables continuous, high-resolution imaging of individual C. elegans from the L1 larval stage through adulthood within a fully integrated system. The device incorporates dynamic fluidic control for automated feeding, waste and progeny removal, and transient, non-invasive immobilization of up to 20 worms in parallel. On-chip nutrition is validated using fluorescently labeled bacteria, and physiological compatibility is confirmed through stress assays

SUBMITTER: Marchoom-Bura N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571207 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature