Bipolar Electrode-Based Precise Manipulation and Selective Electroporation of Cells.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Electroporation

Background:

• Intracellular delivery to specific single cells is crucial for targeted therapies and diagnostics.
• Current methods often rely on complex micromanipulators or multi-step fabrication, limiting practical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for precise manipulation and selective electroporation of single cells.
• To overcome limitations of existing techniques for intracellular delivery.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a bipolar electrode system for precise cell positioning via dielectrophoresis (DEP).
• Achieved selective electroporation using a localized intensified electric field from a direct current (DC) pulse train.
• Employed a rotating electric field for active cell targeting and movement.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated precise control over cell positioning and selective electroporation.
• Successfully delivered fluorescent dye molecules and plasmids into various cell types (yeast, K562, THP-1, 293T, SNU-1).
• Showcased the method's applicability across a wide range of cell types, including bacteria.

Conclusions:

• The bipolar electrode method offers a generic, efficient, and novel tool for targeted intracellular delivery.
• This technique facilitates single-cell analysis and holds significant potential for future therapeutic and diagnostic applications.