Laser-induced microbubble poration of localized single cells

Lab Chip. 2014 May 7;14(9):1572-8. doi: 10.1039/c3lc51394g. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

Abstract

Laser-induced microbubbles were used to porate the cell membranes of localized single NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Microsecond laser pulses were focused on an optically absorbent substrate, creating a vapour microbubble that oscillated in size at the laser focal point in a fluidic chamber. The shear stress accompanying the bubble size oscillation was able to porate nearby cells. Cell poration was demonstrated with the delivery of FITC-dextran dye with various molecular weights. Under optimal poration conditions, the cell poration efficiency was up to 95.2 ± 4.8%, while maintaining 97.6 ± 2.4% cell viability. The poration system is able to target a single cell without disturbing surrounding cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / chemistry
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
  • Lasers*
  • Mice
  • Microbubbles*
  • Molecular Weight
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate