Large molecules are hard to work with and getting them to end up inside of cells is a particular challenge. Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed an easy way of doing this, which may help to hurry the introduction of cell-based therapies including those involving introducing genetically edited cells into the body.
The Georgia Tech’s microfluidic device pushes cells across a series of bumps. Each time a cell bumps a barrier, it loses some of its liquid contents. Up to 30 percent has been demonstrated. The cells are then immediately transferred to a solution containing the large molecules that the researchers wanted the cells to absorb. Because these cells are so hungry, they gorge on the solution and intake the molecules.
Though the bumps are quite dramatic for the cells, only about five percent end up dying while the rest go on revived and anew.
Here’s a Georgia Tech video showing off the new device:
Study in Materials Today: Microfluidic generation of transient cell volume exchange for convectively driven intracellular delivery of large macromolecules…
Via: Georgia Tech…