there is a considerable interest in the patterned chemical intervention of developing organisms. the ability to modify spatiotemporal gene expression in two (or three) dimensions via patterned delivery of genes, proteins and bioactive molecules would allow for more biologically-relevant manipulations of developing systems. several new chemical methods, such as the tetracycline, dexamethasone and insect hormone regulated gene expression systems would benefit from a method which provides patterned delivery of trigger compounds into developing embryos. similarly, simultaneous delivery of multiple molecules in different patterns would also expand the type of experiments performed in spatially heterogeneous systems, particularly where multiple pathways with specific timings are involved.
this project demonstrates the combination of electroporation and microfluidics (without microinjection) to deliver foreign compounds into zebrafish embryos with specific patterns in localized regions. we believe that our simple technique offers the unique advantage of introducing foreign compounds at local sites and in specific patterns unlike any other microsystem technique and provides a new tool to aid advanced studies in cellular development and morphogenesis.
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