title: A novel low-power laser-mediated transfer of foreign molecules into cells.
abstract: Efficiently introducing molecules such as chemical drugs, proteins, or nucleic acids into cells is a central technique in cell and molecular biology, gene therapy and regenerative medicine. The cell membrane is a critical barrier for this purpose. While many approaches exist, some of which are applicable to single cells that researchers specify under microscopy, no reliable and efficient technique has been invented. In this study, cells were cultured on a coverslip that had been coated with carbon by vapor deposition, and a laser beam was focused on a small local spot beneath a single cell under microscopy. The absorbed energy of the laser beam by the carbon made a pore only in the cell membrane that was attached to the carbon coat, which resulted in an efficient introduction. An inexpensive and lower-power laser could be used for this method, and the introduction efficiency was 100% without any loss of cell viability. This new technique will provide a powerful tool not only to research but also to many applied fields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yumura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D019556:COS Cells; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D007834:Lasers; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C073804:FM1 43; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002244:Carbon