title: Dielectrophoretically-assisted electroporation using light-activated virtual microelectrodes for multiple DNA transfection.
abstract: Gene transfection is an important technology for various biological applications. The exogenous DNA is commonly delivered into cells by using a strong electrical field to form transient pores in cellular membranes. However, the high voltage required in this electroporation process may cause cell damage. In this study, a dielectrophoretically-assisted electroporation was developed by using light-activated virtual microelectrodes in a new microfluidic platform. The DNA electrotransfection used a low applied voltage and an alternating current to enable electroporation and transfection. Single or triple fluorescence-carrying plasmids were effectively transfected into various types of mammalian cells, and the fluorescent proteins were successfully expressed in live transfected cells. Moreover, the multi-triangle optical pattern that was projected onto a photoconductive layer to generate localized non-uniform virtual electric fields was found to have high transfection efficiency. The developed dielectrophoretically-assisted electroporation platform may provide a simpler system for gene transfection and could be widely applied in many biotechnological fields.
authors: Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. gwobin@pme.nthu.edu.tw.
authors: Chih-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Wang
authors: You-Hsun
authors: YH
authors: Lee
authors: Hsin-Tzu
authors: HT
authors: Kuo
authors: Wen-Feng
authors: WF
authors: Liang
authors: Wen-Jung
authors: WJ
authors: Li
authors: Gwo-Bin
authors: GB
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008839:Microelectrodes; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004247:DNA