title: Enhanced delivery of macromolecules into cells by electroendocytosis.
abstract: Transfer of exogenous material into the cytosol of cells is one of the main challenges in drug delivery. We present a novel physical approach for efficient incorporation of macromolecules into living cells, based on exposing them to a train of unipolar electric field pulses, possessing much lower amplitude than used for electroporation. The exposure of cells to a low electric field (LEF) alters the cell surface, leading to enhanced adsorption of macromolecules and their subsequent uptake by stimulated endocytosis. The macromolecules are initially encapsulated in membrane vesicles and then, at a later stage, are released into the cytosol and interact with intracellular targets. The uptake of fluorescently labeled macromolecules is monitored using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The biological activities of the incorporated macromolecules are determined by biochemical methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbul
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Antov
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korenstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D004705:Endocytosis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015335:Molecular Probes
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015335:Molecular Probes