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Integrated Size-Selective Cell Purification and Electroporation for Genetic Manipulation of Primary Cells
Hyun Woo Sung1, Soojung Claire Hur2,3,4
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Micromachines
|March 28, 2026
Summary
This study scaled up a microfluidic cell engineering platform for efficient genetic manipulation of heterogeneous primary cells. The improved system enhances processing capacity while maintaining precise cell trapping and delivery performance.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Primary cell samples are heterogeneous and require enrichment for genetic manipulation.
- Previous vortex-assisted microfluidic platforms had limited processing capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To scale up an integrated microfluidic cell trapping and electroporation system.
- To increase processing capacity without compromising performance for heterogeneous primary cells.
Main Methods:
- Redesigned electrode arrays and optimized electrical parameters.
- Systematically optimized electrical and buffer conditions.
- Evaluated delivery of plasmid DNA and mRNA into primary human cells.
Main Results:
- Achieved increased processing capacity through scaled-up architecture.
- Preserved size-selective trapping, electric field uniformity, and device stability.
- Demonstrated efficient DNA and mRNA delivery comparable to chemical transfection methods.
Conclusions:
- The scaled microfluidic platform effectively processes heterogeneous primary cells.
- This advancement enables practical microfluidic cell engineering for larger sample volumes.
- The system offers a viable alternative for genetic manipulation of primary cells.
