Method and apparatus for delivery of molecules to cells

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for injection of a substance into a subject. The apparatus has an assembly including a plurality of elongate non-hollow micro-nanoneedles for delivering the substance into the subject, at least some of the micro-nanoneedles have a non-uniform diameter with a wider upper end and a narrower lower end and a length from 5-100 um, wherein the upper end has a diameter from 1-20 um and the lower end has a diameter from 50-400 nm, wherein the micro-nanoneedles are spaced apart with appropriate spacing therebetween such that when the micro-nanoneedles are penetrating cells in a penetration exercise each of the micro-nanoneedles may penetrate one cell only, and wherein the micro-nanoneedles are made from a relatively rigid material allowing the micro-nanoneedles to maintain rigidity during penetration and are configured to allow coating of the substance on the surface of the lower end.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.