Electrospraying apparatus and method for introducing material into cells

An apparatus for introducing biological material into target cells, the apparatus comprising:

• a biological material source including a suspension of at least biological material;
• a capillary tube electrode, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes a capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the capillary tube operatively connected to the biological material source to receive a flow of the suspension of at least biological material at the first open end thereof;
• and
• an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the second open end of the capillary tube, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode such that a spray of microdroplets suspending particles of at least biological material is provided from the second end of the capillary tube, and further wherein upon evaporation of the microdroplets an electrical charge is concentrated on the suspended particles resulting in a charged spray of substantially dispersed particles such that a space charge effect from repulsion of the electrically charged substantially dispersed particles is used to provide one or more of the substantially dispersed particles of the spray with a velocity sufficient for introduction of the one or more substantially dispersed particles into one or more of the target cells.

An apparatus for introducing biological material into target cells, the apparatus comprising:

• a biological material source including a suspension of at least biological material;
• a capillary tube electrode, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes:
• a capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the capillary tube operatively connected to the biological material source to receive a flow of the suspension of at least biological material at the first open end thereof,
• a casing concentric with. at least a portion of the capillary tube between the first and second open ends thereof, the second open end of the capillary tube extending beyond the casing a predetermined distance, and
• an additional capillary tube concentric with at least a portion of the capillary tube and positioned between the casing and the capillary tube;
• a gas source providing a gas to be received between the capillary tube and the concentric casing;
• and
• an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the second open end of the capillary tube, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode such that a spray of microdroplets suspending particles of at least biological material is provided from the second end of the capillary tube, and further wherein upon evaporation of the microdroplets an electrical charge is concentrated on the suspended particles resulting in a charged spray of substantially dispersed particles such that one or more of the substantially dispersed particles of the spray is introduced into one or more of the target cells.

An apparatus for introducing biological material into target cells, the apparatus comprising:

• a biological material source including a suspension of at least biological material;
• an electrolyte source for providing a solution;
• a capillary tube electrode having a dispensing tip, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes:
• a first capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the first capillary tube operatively connected to the biological material source to receive a flow of the suspension of at least biological material at the first open end thereof, and
• a second capillary tube concentric with at least a portion of the first capillary tube, wherein the electrolyte solution is received in an annular opening defined between the first and second concentric capillary tubes;
• and
• an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the dispensing tip of the capillary tube electrode, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode such that a spray of microdroplets suspending particles of at least biological material is provided from the dispensing tip, and further wherein upon evaporation of the microdroplets an electrical charge is concentrated on the suspended particles resulting in a charged spray of substantially dispersed particles.