title: Pilot study to investigate the possibility of cytogenetic and physiological changes in bio-electrosprayed human lymphocyte cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We recently pioneered the ability to directly electrospray and electrospin living cells without compromising their viability. These protocols, now referred to as 'bio-electrosprays' and 'cell electrospinning', are rapidly emerging bio-techniques with a plethora of promising applications within the life sciences, in particular to regenerative and therapeutic medicine. Our studies to date, with both bio-electrosprays and cell electrospinning, have demonstrated that a large population of viable cells exist post-treatment, in comparison to controls over both short and long periods as assessed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Post-treated mammalian cells are investigated in comparison to controls (culture and needle controls) at a cytogenetic and physiological level. In particular, the study addresses chromosome integrity following these protocols to assess any protocol-inflicted aberrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedures explored failed to inflict any process-driven gross chromosomal aberrations post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary investigations demonstrate no significant compromising affects on the cell's structure at a cytogenetic or physiological level, post-treatment. Thus, further establishing these protocols as unique direct cell-engineering approaches with a host of biological and medical applications, from the development of tissues to perhaps even organs in the future.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Malignancy Cytogenetics Unit and Molecular Haematology & Cancer Biology Unit, CBL Level 2, Institute of Child Health & Great Ormond Street Hospital, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kempski
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatters
authors.forename: Suwan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003582:Cytogenetics; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods