Nano-Electro-Sampling and Intelligent Analysis System for Real-Time Gene Profiling of Living Cells

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate intracellular genetic profiling of living cells is crucial for monitoring therapeutic responses and optimizing treatments.
• Existing methods face challenges in achieving real-time gene analysis while preserving cell viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel system for real-time intracellular genetic profiling of living cells.
• To enable dynamic monitoring of therapeutic response and facilitate timely treatment optimization.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Nano-Electro-Sampling and Intelligent Analysis (Nesta) system with a portable biochip.
• Utilizing nanopore-focused electric fields for safe cell membrane perforation and intracellular gene extraction.
• Employing chip rotation for sample transfer, minimizing loss and contamination.
• Integrating an intelligent image analysis program for quantitative gene analysis from smartphone-captured images.

Main Results:

• The Nesta system demonstrated over 90% detection concordance with gene sequencing in 50 primary lung cancer cell samples.
• Established a significant correlation between rebound expression of EGFR mutant genes and acquired drug resistance (AUC = 0.95).
• Achieved precise quantitative analysis of intracellular genes from living cells.

Conclusions:

• The Nesta system offers a transformative approach for real-time gene analysis of living cells.
• Enables dynamic therapeutic monitoring and timely treatment adjustments.
• Shows high accuracy and potential for clinical applications in oncology.