Vertical silicon nanowires as a universal platform for delivering biomolecules into living cells.
A generalized platform for introducing a diverse range of biomolecules into living cells in high-throughput could transform how complex cellular processes are probed and analyzed. Here, we demonstrate spatially localized, efficient, and universal delivery of biomolecules into immortalized and primary mammalian cells using surface-modified vertical silicon nanowires. The method relies on the ability of the silicon nanowires to penetrate a cell's membrane and subsequently release surface-bound molecules directly into the cell's cytosol, thus allowing highly efficient delivery of biomolecules without chemical modification or viral packaging. This modality enables one to assess the phenotypic consequences of introducing a broad range of biological effectors (DNAs, RNAs, peptides, proteins, and small molecules) into almost any cell type. We show that this platform can be used to guide neuronal progenitor growth with small molecules, knock down transcript levels by delivering siRNAs, inhibit apoptosis using peptides, and introduce targeted proteins to specific organelles. We further demonstrate codelivery of siRNAs and proteins on a single substrate in a microarray format, highlighting this technology's potential as a robust, monolithic platform for high-throughput, miniaturized bioassays.
Shalek
Alex K
AK
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Robinson
Jacob T
JT
Karp
Ethan S
ES
Lee
Jin Seok
JS
Ahn
Dae-Ro
DR
Yoon
Myung-Han
MH
Sutton
Amy
A
Jorgolli
Marsela
M
Gertner
Rona S
RS
Gujral
Taranjit S
TS
MacBeath
Gavin
G
Yang
Eun Gyeong
EG
Park
Hongkun
H
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012825:Silicon