Photothermal Cell Surgery Tool for Precise Cargo Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transferring cargo into mammalian cells, such as endocytosis, viral delivery, and physical transfer methods, face challenges like cargo degradation, toxicity, limited size constraints, and mechanical trauma, leading to inefficient delivery of large cargo and cell viability issues.
Innovation Solution
A cell surgery tool equipped with a microcapillary having a metal film or nanoparticles near the tip that can be heated by electromagnetic energy for precise and minimally damaging penetration of the cell membrane, allowing for the delivery of larger cargo with reduced stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical penetration methods (microcapillary injection) are used to deliver cargo into cells, then delivery precision is improved, but cell viability deteriorates due to mechanical trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical penetration system (sharp micropipette tip physically piercing the cell membrane) with a photothermal system. Metal nanoparticles or metal film coatings on the micropipette tip are heated by laser irradiation to create localized thermal effects that facilitate cargo delivery without mechanical trauma, thereby maintaining cell viability while achieving precise delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and temperature parameters at the micropipette tip by introducing metal nanoparticles or metal film coatings that can be heated by laser irradiation. This photothermal parameter change allows the tip to achieve temperatures sufficient for membrane interaction or cargo delivery without requiring mechanical force, thus preserving cell viability.
2Quantity of substance
If larger cargo is delivered using physical methods, then cargo size capacity is improved, but delivery efficiency deteriorates due to slow diffusion through pores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition (water to steam) by heating metal nanoparticles or metal film coatings with laser irradiation. This thermal energy creates localized vaporization or phase changes that generate pressure gradients and facilitate rapid cargo ejection from the micropipette into the cell, overcoming the slow diffusion limitation and enabling efficient delivery of large cargo.
3Quantity of substance
If pore size is increased to deliver larger cargo, then cargo size capacity is improved, but cell viability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating thermal energy at the micropipette tip through metal nanoparticles or metal film coatings that are selectively heated by laser irradiation. This localized photothermal effect creates a focused interaction zone at the cell membrane or inside the cell, enabling large cargo delivery without requiring large pores throughout the entire cell membrane, thus preserving 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
The tool enables efficient and minimally damaging delivery of various cargo sizes into cells with high precision, maintaining cell viability and overcoming limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a metal film or a plurality of nanoparticles that can be heated by application of electromagnetic energy
Implementation Method 2
heating of the thin film and/or particles where the heating forms bubbles that introduce openings in the membrane of cells
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides novel tools for surgery on single cells and substrates/devices for delivery of reagents to selected cells. In certain embodiments the substrates comprise a surface comprising one or more orifices, where nanoparticles and/or a thin film is deposited on a surface of said orifice or near said orifice, where the nanoparticles and/or a thin film are formed of materials that heat up when contacted with electromagnetic radiation. In certain embodiments the pores are in fluid communication with microchannels containing one or more reagents to be delivered into the cells.