title: Intracellular delivery can be achieved by bombarding cells or tissues with accelerated molecules or bacteria without the need for carrier particles.
abstract: To deliver non-permeable molecules into cells, one can utilize protocols such as microinjection, electroporation, liposome-mediated transfection or virus-mediated transfection. However, each method has its own limitations. Here we have developed a new molecular delivery technique where live cells or tissues are bombarded with highly accelerated molecules directly and without the need to conjugate the molecules onto carrier particles, which is essential in conventional "gene gun" experiments. Gene bombardments can be applied to well-differentiated cells, primary cultured cells/neurons or tissue explants, all of which are notoriously difficult to transfect. Exogenously made proteins and even bacteria can be effectively introduced into cells where they can execute their function or replicate. Our experimental results and physical model support the notion that accelerated chemicals, proteins, or microorganisms carry enough momentum to penetrate the plasma membrane. The bombardment process is associated with a transient (approximately 10 min) increase in cell permeability, but such membrane leakage has a minimal adverse effect on cell survival.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Nan
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yin-Jhen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ro-Lan
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Yun-Cin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jun-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Shie-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chi-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D019470:Biolistics / Q000379:methods*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins