High Frequency Electromagnetic Field Cell Transfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for intracellular delivery of foreign substances, such as nucleic acids, face challenges including low efficiency, cell viability issues, non-specific delivery, and difficulty in delivering molecules to cells with cell walls like prokaryotic, algal, yeast, and plant cells.
Innovation Solution
The method involves exposing cells to a high frequency electromagnetic field (HF EME) with a frequency of about 6 to 35 GHz, allowing the temperature to decrease, and repeating this process before contacting the cells with the foreign substance, all while maintaining a temperature below 37°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electroporation is used for intracellular delivery, then transfection efficiency can be improved, but cell viability is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical system of electroporation with an electromagnetic field system operating at 6-35 GHz. This substitution allows for intracellular delivery through a different physical mechanism that avoids the damaging effects of high-voltage electrical pulses while achieving effective transfection of various cell types including those with cell walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the electromagnetic field to the 6-35 GHz range, which is specific to this invention. This parameter change enables effective intracellular delivery while maintaining cell viability, resolving the contradiction between transfection efficiency and cell survival that plagues conventional electroporation methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional delivery methods are used, then some cell types can be targeted, but delivery to cells with cell walls (prokaryotic, algal, yeast, plant cells) is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal electromagnetic field approach at 6-35 GHz that can penetrate and deliver substances to diverse cell types including prokaryotic, algal, yeast, and plant cells with cell walls. This universal method overcomes the limitation of conventional techniques that are ineffective for cells with protective cell walls, achieving both broad cell type coverage and effective delivery.
3Productivity
If high energy delivery methods are used, then transfection efficiency improves, but the payload molecules are modified or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromagnetic field frequency as a controllable parameter in the 6-35 GHz range to achieve effective intracellular delivery without the high energy levels that damage payload molecules. This parameter optimization allows maintaining both transfection efficiency and payload integrity simultaneously.
4Measurement precision
If manual delivery methods are used, then precision can be maintained, but throughput is low and automation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical delivery methods with an electromagnetic field-based system that can be easily automated. The 6-35 GHz electromagnetic field treatment can be applied uniformly to large numbers of cells in suspension, enabling high-throughput processing while maintaining consistent delivery precision across the cell population.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves efficient and safe intracellular delivery of nucleic acids with high transfection efficiency and minimal cell death, and is applicable to a variety of cell types, including those with cell walls.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the plurality of cells to an electromagnetic field with a frequency of about 6 to about 35 GHz
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are methods for introducing a foreign substance into a cell using high frequency electromagnetic energy. Provided are methods for delivery substances to both prokaryotic and to eukaryotic cells. Also provided are cells generated with the methods disclosed herein.