A Review on Electroporation-Based Intracellular Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Intracellular delivery is crucial for biological discoveries and biomedical research, including gene therapies like CAR-T immunotherapy, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and gene editing.
• Despite advancements, efficient and non-invasive delivery of foreign molecules (nucleic acids, proteins) into cells remains a significant challenge.
• Electroporation, a popular non-viral transfection method, has evolved significantly with nanotechnology and microfabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in electroporation-based intracellular delivery technologies.
• To explore the potential applications of miniaturized electroporation systems in cutting-edge research.
• To highlight how these systems overcome limitations of traditional methods and viral vectors.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent progress in electroporation technology, focusing on miniaturized systems.
• Analysis of nanotechnology and microfabrication contributions to electroporation system development.
• Discussion of comparative advantages over traditional electroporation, such as dose control and cell viability.

Main Results:

• Miniaturized electroporation systems offer improved precision and high cell viability compared to traditional methods.
• These advanced systems provide a viable alternative to viral vectors, mitigating potential safety concerns.
• Emerging applications demonstrate the potential of miniaturized electroporation in gene therapy, cellular reprogramming, and intracellular probing.

Conclusions:

• Miniaturized electroporation represents a significant leap forward in intracellular delivery technology.
• This technology is poised to expand the scope of cell-based therapies and biological research.
• Further development holds promise for safer and more efficient manipulation of cellular functions.