title: Efficient electroporation of peptides into adherent cells: investigation of the role of mechano-growth factor in chondrocyte culture.
abstract: Peptide therapeutics are of increasing interest due to their biological specificity. We used a simple technique to study the efficacy of inducing peptides into adherent chondrocytes by transiently permeabilizing the membrane with electric pulses (in situ electroporation). Mechano-growth factor (MGF) was selected as a model peptide. FITC-labeled MGF was added to cultures of adherent primary chondrocytes grown on ITO coated glass slides. Cells were subjected to 3-9 pulses of 175-275 V and evaluated by flow cytometry. Under optimal conditions, an electroporation efficiency of close to 50% could be achieved. This technique can be used to study the functional domains of intracellular peptides, peptide inhibition of signal transduction and intracrine-mediated effects of peptides in adherent cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETZ F84, ETH Zürich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schönenberger
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco-Obregón
authors.forename: Marcy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenobi-Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate