Fig. 3
Fabrication of miniaturized 3D cages that mirror the shape of the biological specimens such as the larval stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) using SLA moulds: (A) Microphotograph of a positive relief pattern fabricated using a ProJet 7000 HD in VisiJet SL Clear resin. The mould is the size of a standard microscope slide 25 mm × 75 mm. The dashed box denotes a single 3D cage; (B) Topographic surface analysis of a single 3D cage (marked as dashed box in (A) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); (C) D. rerio larvae immobilized inside a PDMS cage, made from an SLA mould and that mirrors the organisms shape; and (D) High-resolution fluorescence imaging of a transgenic Fli1a:EGFP D. rerio larva showing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing vasculature. Larger and smaller vessels are clearly distinguishable in the trunk region (boxed area, red outline).