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Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
High-Preservation Single-Cell Operation through a Photo-responsive Hydrogel-Nanopipette System
Zi-Yuan Li1, Ying-Ya Liu1, Yuan-Jie Li1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Abstract:
Single-cell and in situ cell-based operation with nanopipette approach offers a possibility to elucidate the intracellular processes and may aid the improvement of therapy efficiency and precision. We present here a photo-responsive hydrogel-nanopipette hybrid system that can achieve single-cell operation with high spatial/temporal resolution and negligible cell damage. This strategy overcomes long-time obstacles in nanopipette single-cell studies as high electric potential (ca. 1000 mV) or organic solvent is always used during operations, which would inevitably impose disturbance and damage to targeted cells. The light-triggered system promotes a potential-free, non-invasive single-cell injection, resulting in a well-retained cell viability (90 % survival rate). Moreover, the photo-driven injection enables a precisely dose-controllable single-cell drug delivery. Significantly reduced lethal doses of doxorubicin (163-217 fg cell-1 ) are demonstrated in corresponding cell lines.
