Microfluidic laboratories for C. elegans enhance fundamental studies in biology

The in vivo analysis of a small multicellular organism such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, enables fundamental biomedical and environmental studies of a complete organism under normal physiological conditions. Continuous advancements in photonics, electronics, as well as the material sciences, are paving the way towards miniaturized bioanalytical systems, known as labs-on-a-chip (LOC). These microfluidic technologies facilitate the manipulation and study of nematodes in a precise, real-time, portable, and cost-effective manner, potentially for high throughput operation. In this paper we review all currently available worm-on-a-chip miniaturized systems that address the manipulation, detection, and study of the sensory response of C. elegans, and take a close look at their advantages, application challenges, and scientific potential. The paper aims to consolidate recent results of dedicated worm microsystems that target a better understanding of C. elegans.