Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2025
Cell Squeezing as a Robust, Microfluidic Intracellular Delivery Platform
Published on: November 7, 2013
A paintbrush for delivery of nanoparticles and molecules to live cells with precise spatiotemporal control
Cornelia Holler1,2,3, Richard William Taylor1,2, Alexandra Schambony1,2,3
1Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract:
Delivery of very small amounts of reagents to the near-field of cells with micrometer spatial precision and millisecond time resolution is currently out of reach. Here we present μkiss as a micropipette-based scheme for brushing a layer of small molecules and nanoparticles onto the live cell membrane from a subfemtoliter confined volume of a perfusion flow. We characterize our system through both experiments and modeling, and find excellent agreement. We demonstrate several applications that benefit from a controlled brush delivery, such as a direct means to quantify local and long-range membrane mobility and organization as well as dynamical probing of intercellular force signaling.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel micropipette system, called μkiss, for precise cell membrane reagent delivery. This breakthrough enables controlled brushing of molecules and nanoparticles onto live cells with high spatial and temporal accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Precise delivery of minute reagent quantities to cells at the micrometer scale and millisecond timing is a significant challenge in biological research.
- Existing methods lack the spatial precision and temporal resolution required for detailed studies of live cell membranes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel micropipette-based system, μkiss, for controlled reagent delivery to live cell membranes.
- To demonstrate the system's capability for precise application of small molecules and nanoparticles.
- To showcase applications in quantifying membrane dynamics and probing intercellular signaling.
Main Methods:
- Development of a micropipette-based scheme (μkiss) for 'brushing' reagents onto cell membranes.
- Utilizing a subfemtoliter confined volume within a perfusion flow for controlled delivery.
- System characterization through experimental validation and computational modeling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated excellent agreement between experimental observations and system modeling.
- Successfully applied μkiss for controlled brushing of molecules and nanoparticles onto live cell membranes.
- Validated applications in quantifying membrane mobility, organization, and intercellular force signaling.
Conclusions:
- The μkiss system provides unprecedented spatial and temporal control for reagent delivery to cell membranes.
- This technology opens new avenues for studying membrane dynamics and cell-cell interactions.
- μkiss is a valuable tool for quantitative cell biology and biophysical investigations.
More Related Videos
11:53Predicting Gene Silencing Through the Spatiotemporal Control of siRNA Release from Photo-responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers
Published on: July 21, 2017
09:14High efficiency, Site-specific Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA Using Microelectrode Arrays MEA
Published on: September 13, 2012