Description

The Dechorionation–Cell Dissociation (DCD) Microfluidic Device is a microfluidic platform for integrated zebrafish embryo processing. The device combines mechanical dechorionation, passive chorion filtration, and downstream dissociation of released embryonic contents within a single architecture. Key regions include an inlet channel, an upstream dechorionation zone with constricted corner subchannels, a downstream filtration chamber with graded tear-drop–shaped micropost arrays, and an outlet channel for fragment collection. This device was developed as an enzyme-free, geometry-driven alternative to conventional manual and enzymatic embryo processing. It is intended to support standardized, reproducible, and scalable workflows, and can also serve as a modular unit for future automated systems. This device was developed at the Aquatic Germplasm Center of Research Excellence (AGCoRE) and Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center (AGGRC) of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center , in collaboration with the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Louisiana State University , the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering at LSU and LSU Agricultural Center , and collaborators at Michigan State University . The design was developed by Mohsen Norouzi as part of doctoral research at Louisiana State University and a broader multi-year effort to develop standardized and reproducible open-hardware tools for biological processing, germplasm preservation, and related biomedical research application. This study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (R24-OD028443, R24-OD034058, and R24-OD037797), the National Science Foundation (Award 2229680), and the LSU AgCenter Agriculture Collaborative Research Program. Further assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through Hatch project LAB94420 and award 2024-70007-43549. Complete design files, including STL, 3MF, and SolidWorks files, are also available on GitHub at: https://github.com/aggrc/Dechorionation-Cell-Dissociation-DCD-Microfluidic-Device (https://github.com/aggrc/Dechorionation-Cell-Dissociation-DCD-Microfluidic-Device)