Delivery of macromolecules into cells
US6603998B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/306
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An object of the invention is to provide a method for delivery of macromolecules into biological cells, such as Langerhans cells (22) in the epidermis (20) of a patient, which includes the steps of coating electodes (16) in an electrode assembly (12) with solid phase macromolecules to be delivered, such as a DNA, and/or RNA vaccine or a protein-based vaccine, attaching the electrode assembly (12) having the coated electrodes (16) to an electrode assembly holder (13), providing a waveform generator (15), establishing electrically conductive pathways between the electrodes (16), and the waveform generator (15), locating the electrodes (16) such that the biological cells are situated therebetween, such as by penetrating the needle electrode (16) into the epidermis (20) above the epidermal basal lamina, and providing pulse waveform from the waveform generator (15) to the electrodes (16), such that macromolecule on the electrodes (16) is driven off of the electrodes (16), and delivered into the biological cells, such as the Langerhans cells (22).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.