title: A vector-free microfluidic platform for intracellular delivery.
abstract: Intracellular delivery of macromolecules is a challenge in research and therapeutic applications. Existing vector-based and physical methods have limitations, including their reliance on exogenous materials or electrical fields, which can lead to toxicity or off-target effects. We describe a microfluidic approach to delivery in which cells are mechanically deformed as they pass through a constriction 30-80% smaller than the cell diameter. The resulting controlled application of compression and shear forces results in the formation of transient holes that enable the diffusion of material from the surrounding buffer into the cytosol. The method has demonstrated the ability to deliver a range of material, such as carbon nanotubes, proteins, and siRNA, to 11 cell types, including embryonic stem cells and immune cells. When used for the delivery of transcription factors, the microfluidic devices produced a 10-fold improvement in colony formation relative to electroporation and cell-penetrating peptides. Indeed, its ability to deliver structurally diverse materials and its applicability to difficult-to-transfect primary cells indicate that this method could potentially enable many research and clinical applications.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors: Armon
authors: A
authors: Sharei
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Zoldan
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Adamo
authors: Woo Young
authors: WY
authors: Sim
authors: Nahyun
authors: N
authors: Cho
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Jackson
authors: Shirley
authors: S
authors: Mao
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Schneider
authors: Min-Joon
authors: MJ
authors: Han
authors: Abigail
authors: A
authors: Lytton-Jean
authors: Pamela A
authors: PA
authors: Basto
authors: Siddharth
authors: S
authors: Jhunjhunwala
authors: Jungmin
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Heller
authors: Jeon Woong
authors: JW
authors: Kang
authors: George C
authors: GC
authors: Hartoularos
authors: Kwang-Soo
authors: KS
authors: Kim
authors: Daniel G
authors: DG
authors: Anderson
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Langer
authors: Klavs F
authors: KF
authors: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015870:Gene Expression; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011506:Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering