Microwave Irradiation for Macromolecule Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering macromolecules, such as genes and oligonucleotides, into target cells or tissues face challenges in efficiency and safety, particularly in vivo, with existing physical methods like electroporation causing tissue damage and sonoporation achieving limited efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of microwave irradiation to permeabilize cell membranes, allowing macromolecules to be introduced into cells without causing significant cell viability issues, by controlling the power, duration, and frequency of microwave exposure to facilitate the delivery of therapeutic agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electroporation is used for gene delivery, then efficient gene delivery is achieved, but tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters from high voltage electroporation to microwave irradiation with controlled power (e.g., 1000 W), duration (e.g., 10 seconds), and frequency (2.45 GHz). This parameter transformation achieves efficient gene delivery while avoiding the severe tissue damage caused by high voltage electroporation, as microwave energy can be precisely controlled to create transient pores without excessive heating or mechanical damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sonoporation is used for controlled delivery, then safety is improved, but delivery efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ultrasound waves used in sonoporation with electromagnetic microwave radiation. This substitution maintains safety for cell viability while dramatically improving delivery efficiency. The microwave energy directly interacts with water molecules in cell membranes, creating transient pores that efficiently facilitate macromolecule entry without the limitations of sonoporation's mechanical cavitation and heating effects.
3Strength
If high power microwave irradiation is applied, then cell membrane permeabilization is enhanced, but cell viability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed microwave irradiation rather than continuous high power application. By applying microwave energy in controlled pulses (e.g., 10 seconds total duration with intermittent cycles), the method achieves sufficient membrane permeabilization to enable efficient macromolecule delivery while allowing heat dissipation between pulses, thereby preventing thermal damage and maintaining cell viability.
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 enables safe and efficient delivery of macromolecules into target cells or tissues, both in vitro and in vivo, achieving therapeutic effects for various diseases and disorders without causing cell death or damage, as demonstrated by improved luciferase and eGFP expression and dystrophin exon skipping.
Implementation Method 1
a target cell or tissue is exposed to one or more macromolecules to be delivered into the desired cell or tissue and irradiated with microwave radiation
Implementation Method 2
the microwave irradiation of cells or tissue should preferably not kill the targeted cells, but instead permeabilize the cells to allow the cells to effectively take-up the desired macromolecule
Implementation Method 3
Additionally, microwave radiation can also enhance the delivery of macromolecules through non-pore formation mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to methods of delivering macromolecules to a target cell or tissue by microwave irradiation. A target cell or tissue is exposed to one or more macromolecules to be delivered into the desired cell or tissue and irradiated with microwave radiation. The strength or power of the microwave radiation is such that the macromolecules are delivered into the target cell or tissue. Preferably, the strength of the microwave radiation does not significantly impact cell viability in a negative manner (e.g., apoptosis).