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Microscale Vortex-assisted Electroporator for Sequential Molecular Delivery
Published on: August 7, 2014
Electrophoresis-assisted single-cell electroporation for efficient intracellular delivery
Cristian Ionescu-Zanetti1, Andrew Blatz, Michelle Khine
1Fluxion Biosciences, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
Biomedical Microdevices
|September 11, 2007
Summary
Single-cell electroporation combined with electrophoresis enhances the delivery of molecules into cells. This method significantly boosts the efficiency of introducing compounds compared to diffusion alone.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Single-cell electroporation offers improved cell viability and transfection rates compared to bulk methods.
- Delivering exogenous molecules into cells remains a challenge, especially for larger compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance exogenous transport efficiency in conjunction with single-cell electroporation.
- To investigate the use of electrophoresis for delivering impermeable molecules post-electroporation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized single-cell electroporation with low applied voltages.
- Employed electrophoresis to drive anionic fluorescent molecules (Calcein, Oregon Green Dextran) into cells.
- Developed a pre-concentration protocol at the cell-microfluidic channel interface for larger molecules.
Main Results:
- Achieved delivery of otherwise impermeable anionic fluorescent molecules.
- Demonstrated delivery rate enhancements of over an order of magnitude using electrophoresis compared to diffusion.
- Successfully delivered Calcein (622 Da) and Oregon Green Dextran (70,000 Da).
Conclusions:
- Combining single-cell electroporation with post-electroporation electrophoresis is an effective strategy for enhancing molecular delivery.
- This integrated approach significantly improves the efficiency of introducing exogenous compounds into single cells.
