Microelectronic cell electroporation array
US7521224B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/817
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The electroporation array is comprised of three technologies: microwire glass electrodes, microelectronic multiplexer stimulator chips and microfluidic flow chamber. Various substances, such as genes, gene silencing RNAi, gene inhibition agents or drugs, can be perfused into the microfluidic flow chamber. The entry of the various substances into the cells will be facilitated by electroporation. An applied electric potential causes nanoscale pores to open in the cell membrane allowing substances in the solution to freely diffuse into the cell. The specific cells selected for electroporation are defined using the computer controlled microelectronic stimulator array. An “image” of which electrodes within the array to apply the electric potential to, and thus electroporate, is de-multiplexed onto the array. All the selected electrodes deliver a current pulse varied by the intensity of the de-multiplexed “image”. By serially perfusing different substances across the cells or tissue and electroporating different areas of the cell or tissue culture, it will be possible to have different cells within the culture contain different genes, gene silencing RNAi, gene inhibition agents, drugs, c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.