Gene printer: laser-scanning targeted transfection of cultured cardiac neonatal rat cells

Heterogeneous gene expression in cardiac cells and tissues which requires targeted delivery of foreign DNA into selected cells or regions is needed for the development of novel therapies. Several techniques have been employed for targeted transfection, such as direct microinjection into cells or targeted electroporation. However, these techniques have limited bandwidth or spatial resolution of transfection. We aimed to develop a method for transfection of cardiac cells by means of laser-assisted optoporation using a standard confocal microscope. This technique allows for the transfection of selected cell types in the presence of other cell types as long as they are distinguishable with a microscope. This technique can work as a "gene printer" creating arbitrarily shaped areas of transfected cells.