Method for intracellular manipulation of a biological cell

US6475760B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Micronas GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Werner Baumann · Bogen, DE
• Ralf Ehret · Merdingen, DE
• Mirko Lehmann · Glückstadt, DE
• Gunter Igel · Teningen, DE
• Hans-Jurgen Gahle · Emmendingen, DE
• Bernhard Wolf · Poing, DE
• Ulrich Sieben · Meßkirch, DE
• Ingo Freund · Endingen am Kaiserstuhl, DE
• Martin Brischwein · Birkenfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 5, 2002
• Expiry date: May 27, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N13/00
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process is provided for the intracellular manipulation of a biological cell (3) which is positioned adhering to a support area (5) in a culture medium (2). Inside the support area (5) for the cell (3) an opening into the membrane of the cell (3) is created spaced from its support edge. The edge of the cell membrane surrounding the opening, adhering to the support area (5), thus seals off the cell fluid situated in the interior of the cell (3) from the culture medium (2) and insulates the cell fluid against the culture medium (2). The interior of the cell (3) is manipulated through the opening. An apparatus for implementing the process is also provided, including an object carrier (4) with a support area (5) for adhering the cell and a poration tool (6) for creating the opening in the cell membrane. The poration tool (6) may be any of various chemical, mechanical and/or electrical devices.