Metabolic profile analysis of a single caenorhabditis elegans across the lifespan within a microfluidic device

A combination of a microfluidic device with a light modulation system was developed to detect the oxygen consumption rate of a single developing Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) via phase-based phosphorescence lifetime detection. The microfluidic device combines two components: PMMA microwells containing an oxygen-sensitive luminescent layer and a microfluidic module with pneumatically actuated lids to seal the microwells. The basal respiration of a single C. elegans has been successfully measured from post-embryonic development to aged stages. Sequentially adding inhibitors of bioenergetic pathways allows us to perform respiratory measurements of a single C. elegans at key developmental stages and monitor changes in mitochondrial function.