Oscillating high-aspect-ratio monolithic silicon nanoneedle array enables efficient delivery of functional bio-macromolecules into living cells

Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 16:5:15325. doi: 10.1038/srep15325.

Abstract

Delivery of biomolecules with use of nanostructures has been previously reported. However, both efficient and high-throughput intracellular delivery has proved difficult to achieve. Here, we report a novel material and device for the delivery of biomacromolecules into live cells. We attribute the successful results to the unique features of the system, which include high-aspect-ratio, uniform nanoneedles laid across a 2D array, combined with an oscillatory feature, which together allow rapid, forcible and efficient insertion and protein release into thousands of cells simultaneously.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Transfer Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / genetics
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Needles
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Tissue Array Analysis / instrumentation

Substances

  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases
  • Silicon