Apparatus and methods for electroporation and electrofusion
OwnerRobert E. Schmuklerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An insulating film in a container has pores whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of a first type of cells in the container. The first type of cells are trapped in the pores, so that when an electric field is applied to the container, electroporation of the first type of cells occurs. If a second type of cells, smaller than the first type of cells, are also trapped in the pores, electrofusion will occur between the first and second types of cells trapped in the same pores.
Claims13
A method of electroporation of a first type of cells comprising the steps of
- placing the first type of cells in a solution held by a container in which an insulation film being penetrated by pores whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the first type of cells;
- causing the first type of cells to become trapped in different ones of the pores such that a portion of each of the trapped first type of cells extends into a different one of the pores;
- and
- applying an electric field to the container to cause electroporation of the trapped first type of cells at the portions of the trapped first type of cells which extend into said pores.
A method of electrofusion of a first type of cells with a second type of cells, the first type of cells being larger than the second type of cells, the method comprising the step of:
- causing the first type of cells to become trapped in different ones of the pores such that a portion of each of the trapped first type of cells extends into a different one of the pores, the trapped cells extending into a portion of the pores on a first side of the insulating film;
- placing the first type of cells in a solution held by a container in which an insulating film divides the container into two portions, the insulation film being penetrated by pores whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the first type of cells;
- placing the second type of cells in the container;
- causing trapped ones of the second type of cells to enter certain ones of the pores of the insulating film side into which trapped first type of cells extend and to contact trapped first type of cells, the trapped second type of cells entering the certain pores from a second side of the insulating film;
- and
- applying an electric field to the container to cause electroporation of the trapped first type of cells at the portions of the trapped first type of cells which extend into said pores, to cause electroporation of the second type of cells in the pores, and then to cause electrofusion of the electroporated first type of cells and second type of cells which are in the same pores in contact with one another.
A method of electrofusion of a first type of cells with a second type of cells, the first type of cells being larger than the second type of cells, the method comprising the step of:
- causing the first type of cells to become trapped in different ones of the pores such that a portion of each of the trapped first type of cells extends into a different one of the pores, the trapped cells extending into a portion of the pores on a first side of the insulating film;
- placing the first type of cells in a solution held by a container in which an insulating film divides the container into two portions, the insulation film being penetrated by pores whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the first type of cells;
- placing the second type of cells in the container;
- causing trapped ones of the second type of cells to enter certain ones of the pores of the insulating film side into which trapped first type of cells extend and to contact trapped first type of cells, the trapped second type of cells entering the certain pores from a second side of the insulating film;
- and
- applying an electric field to the container to cause electrofusion of the first type of cells and second type of cells which are in the same pores in contact with one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.