Bulk Electroporation for Intracellular Delivery Directly Driven by Mechanical Stimulus

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Electroporation (EP) is a key intracellular delivery technique but often requires complex, expensive, and potentially hazardous high-voltage (HV) systems.
• Existing EP methods pose risks to cells and operators due to high voltage requirements and complicated equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a safe, simple, and cost-effective electroporation system using a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG).
• To demonstrate the efficacy of the TENG-based Bulk Electroporation System (BEST) for enhanced intracellular delivery and cell transfection.

Main Methods:

• Designed a Bulk Electroporation System (BEST) integrating a TENG as a safe HV power source.
• Utilized a flowing electroporation unit with a capillary for impedance matching and a low conductivity buffer for optimal cell electroporation.
• Performed cell transfection experiments using HeLa cells with FITC-dextran to assess delivery efficiency and cell viability.

Main Results:

• The BEST system achieved a bulk electric field of up to 1 kV/cm, increasing transmembrane potential by approximately 30 times.
• Demonstrated a delivery efficiency exceeding 50% for 40 kDa FITC-dextran in HeLa cells.
• Maintained cell viability above 90% during the electroporation process.

Conclusions:

• Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a safe and effective HV power source for biomedical applications, including electroporation.
• The developed BEST provides a simple, low-cost, and efficient alternative for intracellular delivery research and applications.
• This TENG-based approach significantly improves transfection efficiency while ensuring high cell viability.