Comprehensive Hydrodynamic Investigation of Zebrafish Tail Beats in a Microfluidic Device with a Shape Memory Alloy

The zebrafish is acknowledged as a reliable species of choices for biomechanical-related investigations. The definite quantification of the hydrodynamic flow physics caused by behavioral patterns, particularly in the zebrafish tail beat, is critical for a comprehensive understanding of food toxicity in this species, and it can be further interpreted for possible human responses. The zebrafish's body size and swimming speed place it in the intermediate flow regime, where both viscous and inertial forces play significant roles in the fluid-structure interaction. This pilot work highlighted the design and development of a novel microfluidic device coupled with a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator to immobilize the zebrafish within the observation region for hydrodynamic quantification of the tail-beating behavioral responses, which may be induced by the overdose of food additive exposure. This study significantly examined behavioral patterns of the zebrafish in early developmental stages, which, in turn, generated vortex circulation. The presented findings on the behavioral responses of the zebrafish through the hydrodynamic analysis provided a golden protocol to assess the zebrafish as an animal model for new drug discovery and development.

Automated summary

The study utilized zebrafish as a reliable species for biomechanical-related investigations, focusing on quantifying the hydrodynamic flow physics caused by tail beating behaviors to better understand food toxicity and potential human responses. A novel microfluidic device coupled with a shape memory alloy actuator was designed to immobilize zebrafish for hydrodynamic quantification, aiding in assessing zebrafish as an animal model for new drug discovery and development. The research provided valuable insights into early developmental behavioral patterns of zebrafish and its implications on drug discovery.