Figure 2.
Process flow for automated phototransfection: (i) Instrumented microscope with fixed positioned petri dish with cover-slips of cells to be phototransfected. (ii) Local mapping of individual cover-slips for image processing and data retrieval. (iii) Image segmentation to identify cell features and morphology. Morphological data stored in database for each cell in FOV. (iv) Laser target calculation based on feature extraction and morphology. (v) Coordinated microscope stage movements and laser firing to administer laser at designated targets. (vi) mRNA release into porated cells by pipette mounted on computer-controlled micromanipulator. The process loop then restarts on next FOV on cover-slip. Once all FOV’s on cover-slip have phototransfected, the process continues on next cover-slip in the petri dish.
