Single-cell electroporation

Can Single Cell Respiration be Measured by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM)?

Ultramicroelectrode (UME), or, equivalently, microelectrode, probes are increasingly used for single-cell measurements of cellular properties and processes, including physiological activity, such as metabolic fluxes and respiration rates. Major challenges for the sensitivity of such measurements include: (i) the relative magnitude of cellular and UME fluxes (manifested in the current); and (ii) issues around the stability of the UME response over time. To explore the extent to which these factors impact the precision of electrochemical cellular measurements, we undertake a systematic analysis of measurement conditions and experimental parameters for determining single cell respiration rates via the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in single HeLa cells. Using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), with a platinum UME as the probe, we employ a self-referencing measurement protocol, rarely employed in SECM, whereby the UME is repeatedly approached from bulk solution to a cell, and a short pulse to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) potential is performed near the cell and in bulk solution. This approach enables the periodic tracking of the bulk UME response to which the near-cell response is repeatedly compared (referenced) and also ensures that the ORR near the cell is performed only briefly, minimizing the effect of the electrochemical process on the cell. SECM experiments are combined with a finite element method (FEM) modeling framework to simulate oxygen diffusion and the UME response. Taking a realistic range of single cell OCR to be 1 × 10-18 to 1 × 10-16 mol s-1, results from the combination of FEM simulations and self-referencing SECM measurements show that these OCR values are at, or below, the present detection sensitivity of the technique. We provide a set of model-based suggestions for improving these measurements in the future but highlight that extraordinary improvements in the stability and precision of SECM measurements will be required if single cell OCR measurements are to be realized.

High-Throughput and Dosage-Controlled Intracellular Delivery of Large Cargos by an Acoustic-Electric Micro-Vortices Platform

A high-throughput non-viral intracellular delivery platform is introduced for the transfection of large cargos with dosage-control. This platform, termed Acoustic-Electric Shear Orbiting Poration (AESOP), optimizes the delivery of intended cargo sizes with poration of the cell membranes via mechanical shear followed by the modulated expansion of these nanopores via electric field. Furthermore, AESOP utilizes acoustic microstreaming vortices wherein up to millions of cells are trapped and mixed uniformly with exogenous cargos, enabling the delivery of cargos into cells with targeted dosages. Intracellular delivery of a wide range of molecule sizes (<1 kDa to 2 MDa) with high efficiency (>90%), cell viability (>80%), and uniform dosages (<60% coefficient of variation (CV)) simultaneously into 1 million cells min-1 per single chip is demonstrated. AESOP is successfully applied to two gene editing applications that require the delivery of large plasmids: i) enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) plasmid (6.1 kbp) transfection, and ii) clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9-mediated gene knockout using a 9.3 kbp plasmid DNA encoding Cas9 protein and single guide RNA (sgRNA). Compared to alternative platforms, this platform offers dosage-controlled intracellular delivery of large plasmids simultaneously to large populations of cells while maintaining cell viability at comparable delivery efficiencies.

In situ electroporation of mammalian cells through SiO2 thin film capacitive microelectrodes

Electroporation is a widely used non-viral technique for the delivery of molecules, including nucleic acids, into cells. Recently, electronic microsystems that miniaturize the electroporation machinery have been developed as a new tool for genetic manipulation of cells in vitro, by integrating metal microelectrodes in the culture substrate and enabling electroporation in-situ. We report that non-faradic SiO₂ thin film-insulated microelectrodes can be used for reliable and spatially selective in-situ electroporation of mammalian cells. CHO-K1 and SH-SY5Y cell lines and primary neuronal cultures were electroporated by application of short and low amplitude voltage transients leading to cell electroporation by capacitive currents. We demonstrate reliable delivery of DNA plasmids and exogenous gene expression, accompanied by high spatial selectivity and cell viability, even with differentiated neurons. Finally, we show that SiO₂ thin film-insulated microelectrodes support a double and serial transfection of the targeted cells.

Microfluidic Based Physical Approaches towards Single-Cell Intracellular Delivery and Analysis

The ability to deliver foreign molecules into a single living cell with high transfection efficiency and high cell viability is of great interest in cell biology for applications in therapeutic development, diagnostics, and drug delivery towards personalized medicine. Various physical delivery methods have long demonstrated the ability to deliver cargo molecules directly to the cytoplasm or nucleus and the mechanisms underlying most of the approaches have been extensively investigated. However, most of these techniques are bulk approaches that are cell-specific and have low throughput delivery. In comparison to bulk measurements, single-cell measurement technologies can provide a better understanding of the interactions among molecules, organelles, cells, and the microenvironment, which can aid in the development of therapeutics and diagnostic tools. To elucidate distinct responses during cell genetic modification, methods to achieve transfection at the single-cell level are of great interest. In recent years, single-cell technologies have become increasingly robust and accessible, although limitations exist. This review article aims to cover various microfluidic-based physical methods for single-cell intracellular delivery such as electroporation, mechanoporation, microinjection, sonoporation, optoporation, magnetoporation, and thermoporation and their analysis. The mechanisms of various physical methods, their applications, limitations, and prospects are also elaborated.

Bio-Coreactant-Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Microscopy of Intracellular Structure and Transport

A bio-coreactant-enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) microscopy realizes the ECL imaging of intracellular structure and dynamic transport. This microscopy uses Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ as the electrochemical molecular antenna connecting extracellular and intracellular environments, and uses intracellular biomolecules as the coreactants of ECL reactions via a "catalytic route". Accordingly, intracellular structures are identified without using multiple labels, and autophagy involving DNA oxidative damage is detected using nuclear ECL signals. A time-resolved image sequence discloses the universal edge effect of cellular electroporation due to the influence of the geometric properties of cell membranes on the induced transmembrane voltage. The dynamic transport of Ru(bpy)₃ ³⁺ in the different cellular compartments unveils the heterogeneous intracellular diffusivity correlating with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition to single-cell studies, the bio-coreactant-enhanced ECL microscopy is used to image a slice of a mouse liver and a colony of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

Active particles as mobile microelectrodes for selective bacteria electroporation and transport

Self-propelling micromotors are emerging as a promising micro- and nanoscale tool for single-cell analysis. We have recently shown that the field gradients necessary to manipulate matter via dielectrophoresis can be induced at the surface of a polarizable active ("self-propelling") metallodielectric Janus particle (JP) under an externally applied electric field, acting essentially as a mobile floating microelectrode. Here, we successfully demonstrated that the application of an external electric field can singularly trap and transport bacteria and can selectively electroporate the trapped bacteria. Selective electroporation, enabled by the local intensification of the electric field induced by the JP, was obtained under both continuous alternating current and pulsed signal conditions. This approach is generic and applicable to bacteria and JP, as well as a wide range of cell types and micromotor designs. Hence, it constitutes an important and novel experimental tool for single-cell analysis and targeted delivery.

Microelectrofluidic probe for sequential cell separation and patterning

Cell separation and patterning are of interest to several biological and medical applications including rare cell isolation and co-culture models. Numerous microfluidic devices have been used for cell separation and patterning, however, the typical closed channel configuration comes with challenges and limitations. Here, we report a dielectrophoresis (DEP) enabled microelectrofluidic probe (MeFP) for sequentially separating and patterning of mammalian cells in an open microfluidic system. The MeFP is a microfluidic probe with injection and aspiration apertures, integrated with an array of micro-hump electrodes on its tip. Aligning the MeFP parallel, and in close proximity, to a conductive substrate forms a vertical pin-plate electrode configuration that allows for an integration of DEP forces within the hydrodynamic flow confinement. Upon confining a heterogeneous cell suspension in the gap between the MeFP and the substrate, target cells are selectively captured on the micro-hump electrodes using positive DEP forces, and then deposited on the substrate in defined patterns. Characterization of the MeFP showed an increase in cell-capture efficiency when the MeFP is of a higher microfluidic multipole configuration. Separation of cancer cells from T lymphocytes was demonstrated with capture purity as high as 89.6%. Deposited patterns of isolated cells match the numerically calculated particle trajectories of the evaluated microfluidic multipoles configurations. By adjusting the flow configuration of the MeFP, we show that the patterned co-culture of two different cell types can be dynamically controlled for homotypic and heterotypic cell interaction studies. This work presents a multifunctional microfluidic tool that bio-fabricates selective multicellular patterns directly on an open substrate without the need for confined conduits.

Flow micropillar array electroporation to enhance size specific transfection to a large population of cells

Despite serving as a popular non-viral delivery approach, electroporation carries several drawbacks in its current configurations. We developed a Flow Micropillar-array Electroporation (FME) system to wisely regulate an important transmembrane-determining factor, namely cell size variations among individual cells, to achieve effective transfection. In FME, cells flow through a slit-type microfluidic channel on which carbon electrodes with well-patterned micropillar array texture are integrated as the top and bottom wall. Gravity helps bring cells to the micropillar array surface so that the permeable area on cells in different size populations is specified by their size regardless their random location fact. Without sacrificing cell viability, we demonstrate this FME concept by delivering DNA plasmids to several mammalian cell lines with obvious transfection enhancement when compared to a commercial system (K562: 3.0 folds; A549: 3.3 folds; HeLa: 1.8 folds, COS7: 1.7 folds; 293T: 2.9 folds; mES: 2.5 folds). Moreover, carbon-based electrodes are less expensive, more durable, and convenient for integration with a microfluidic setup which enables rapid and massive transfection capability that many therapeutic application needs. The success of FME may benefit many emerging biological studies and clinical practice that requires effective transfection to a large population of cells in limited processing time.

Microfluidic Irreversible Electroporation-A Versatile Tool to Extract Intracellular Contents of Bacteria and Yeast

Exploring the dynamic behavior of cellular metabolism requires a standard laboratory method that guarantees rapid sampling and extraction of the cellular content. We propose a versatile sampling technique applicable to cells with different cell wall and cell membrane properties. The technique is based on irreversible electroporation with simultaneous quenching and extraction by using a microfluidic device. By application of electric pulses in the millisecond range, permanent lethal pores are formed in the cell membrane of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, facilitating the release of the cellular contents; here demonstrated by the measurement of glucose-6-phosphate and the activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The successful application of this device was demonstrated by pulsed electric field treatment in a flow-through configuration of the microfluidic chip in combination with sampling, inactivation, and extraction of the intracellular content in a few seconds. Minimum electric field strengths of 10 kV/cm for E. coli and 7.5 kV/cm for yeast S. cerevisiae were required for successful cell lysis. The results are discussed in the context of applications in industrial biotechnology, where metabolomics analyses are important.

Nanoinjection system for precise direct delivery of biomolecules into single cells

Intracellular delivery of functional molecules such as proteins, transcription factors and DNA is effective and promising in cell biology. However, existing transfection methods are often unsuitable to deliver big molecules into cells or require carriers such as viruses and peptides specific to the target molecules. In addition, the nature of bulk processing does not generally provide accurate dose control of individual cells. The concept of single-cell-based material injection based on electrokinetic pumping through nanocapillaries could overcome these problems, yet the fabrication and operation of nanoscale 3-dimensional structures have remained unsolved. In this research, a hybrid (PDMS/glass) microfluidic chip with a true 3-dimensional nanoinjection structure (called "nanoinjection system") is presented. The nanoinjection structure was fabricated by femtosecond-laser (fs-laser) ablation in a single solid glass, which showed very successful delivery of red fluorescent protein (RFP) and expression of plasmid DNA in several different types of cells. This system is promising in that the amount of molecules to be delivered is controllable and the processed cells are systematically separated into a harvesting chamber, which can radically improve the purity of the processed cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the cells were healthy even after the molecule injection for a few seconds, indicating that the injection time can be significantly elongated, further improving the delivery efficiency of biomolecules without affecting the cell viability. We envision that the nanoinjection system having the major features of being carrier-free and dose-controllable, having an unlimited injection period, and ease of harvesting will greatly contribute to the next-generation research studies in the fields of cell biology and cell therapeutics.

A Review of Automated Microinjection of Zebrafish Embryos

Cell microinjection is a technique of precise delivery of substances into cells and is widely used for studying cell transfection, signaling pathways, and organelle functions. Microinjection of the embryos of zebrafish, the third most important animal model, has become a very useful technique in bioscience. However, factors such as the small cell size, high cell deformation tendency, and transparent zebrafish embryo membrane make the microinjection process difficult. Furthermore, this process has strict, specific requirements, such as chorion softening, avoiding contacting the first polar body, and high-precision detection. Therefore, highly accurate control and detection platforms are critical for achieving the automated microinjection of zebrafish embryos. This article reviews the latest technologies and methods used in the automated microinjection of zebrafish embryos and provides a detailed description of the current developments and applications of robotic microinjection systems. The review covers key areas related to automated embryo injection, including cell searching and location, cell position and posture adjustment, microscopic visual servoing control, sensors, actuators, puncturing mechanisms, and microinjection.

The Insertion Mechanism of a Living Cell Determined by the Stress Segmentation Effect of the Cell Membrane during the Tip-Cell Interaction

Atomic force microscopy probes are proved to be powerful tools to measure and manipulate the individual cell, providing potential applications for the controlled drug/protein delivery. However, the measured insertion efficiency varies dramatically from 20 to 80%, in some cases, the nanotip can never penetrate the cell membrane no matter how much force is applied to it. Thus, the insertion mechanism of a living cell during the tip-cell interaction must be thoroughly investigated before this technology comes into practical applications. In this work, a multistructural cell model is established to study the tip-membrane interaction. The simulation results show that the stress of the cell membrane can be divided into two stages by the stress segmentation point S. After point S, the stress of the cell membrane increases slightly and most of the indentation force is allocated to the cytoskeleton. This phenomenon is called "stress segmentation effect of the cell membrane," which confirms the hypothesis based on the experimental studies. Moreover, according to the experimental and numerical studies, the hypothesis of the stress segmentation effect also explains the reason that modifying the cell membrane or using the manmade sharpened nanotip can increase the insertion efficiency.

Architecture of a mammalian glomerular domain revealed by novel volume electroporation using nanoengineered microelectrodes

Dense microcircuit reconstruction techniques have begun to provide ultrafine insight into the architecture of small-scale networks. However, identifying the totality of cells belonging to such neuronal modules, the "inputs" and "outputs," remains a major challenge. Here, we present the development of nanoengineered electroporation microelectrodes (NEMs) for comprehensive manipulation of a substantial volume of neuronal tissue. Combining finite element modeling and focused ion beam milling, NEMs permit substantially higher stimulation intensities compared to conventional glass capillaries, allowing for larger volumes configurable to the geometry of the target circuit. We apply NEMs to achieve near-complete labeling of the neuronal network associated with a genetically identified olfactory glomerulus. This allows us to detect sparse higher-order features of the wiring architecture that are inaccessible to statistical labeling approaches. Thus, NEM labeling provides crucial complementary information to dense circuit reconstruction techniques. Relying solely on targeting an electrode to the region of interest and passive biophysical properties largely common across cell types, this can easily be employed anywhere in the CNS.

Expression of the GluA2 subunit of glutamate receptors is required for the normal dendritic differentiation of cerebellar Purkinje cells

Cerebellar Purkinje cells differentiate the most elaborate dendritic trees among neurons in the brain and constitute the principal part of cerebellar neuronal circuitry. In the present study, we examined the role of the GluA2 subunit of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors in the dendritic differentiation of Purkinje cells. Since mature Purkinje cells express the GluA2 subunit, AMPA receptors on them exhibit a low Ca²⁺ permeability. Does this expression of GluA2, leading to the loss of Ca²⁺ permeability of AMPA receptors, have a positive significance in the dendritic differentiation of Purkinje cells? To answer this question, we introduced GluA2 siRNA into immature Purkinje cells in cerebellar cell cultures using a single-cell electroporation technique. The dendritic elongation and branching, as well as spine formation, were inhibited by GluA2 knockdown in Purkinje cells. GluA2 knockdown augmented the elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations and a higher incidence of oscillation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations in response to glutamate. These findings suggest that excessive elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations has a negative effect on the dendritic differentiation of Purkinje cells and that the expression of GluA2 inhibits this negative effect in the development of Purkinje cells.

Engineering biological systems using automated biofoundries

Engineered biological systems such as genetic circuits and microbial cell factories have promised to solve many challenges in the modern society. However, the artisanal processes of research and development are slow, expensive, and inconsistent, representing a major obstacle in biotechnology and bioengineering. In recent years, biological foundries or biofoundries have been developed to automate design-build-test engineering cycles in an effort to accelerate these processes. This review summarizes the enabling technologies for such biofoundries as well as their early successes and remaining challenges.

Low-Voltage Flow-Through Electroporation in Gold-Microtube Membranes

Electroporation is used to create pores within the membrane of living cells in order to deliver a substance, for example, a gene, into the cytoplasm. To achieve the high electric field gradients required to porate the membrane, current electroporation devices deliver voltage pulses in the kV range to the cell medium. We describe a new device based on gold-microtube membranes that can accomplish electroporation with voltage pulses that are orders of magnitude smaller, ≤5 V. This is possible because the voltage pulses are applied to the gold microtubes resulting in large electric field gradients down the length of the tubes. We used COMSOL simulations to calculate the electric field gradients, and these theoretical results were compared with known experimental values required to electroporate Escherichia coli. We developed two fluorescence-based methods to demonstrate successful electroporation of E. coli. The percentages of electroporated bacteria were found to be more than an order of magnitude higher than obtained with a commercial electroporator, although the voltage employed was 500 times lower. Furthermore, this microtube membrane device is flow through and is therefore capable of continuous, as opposed to batch-wise, electroporation and cell analysis. Cell throughput of >30 million cells per min, higher than any previously reported device, were obtained.

Micro-/nanoscale electroporation

Electroporation has been one of the most popular non-viral technologies for cell transfection. However, conventional bulk electroporation (BEP) shows significant limitations in efficiency, cell viability and transfection uniformity. Recent advances in microscale-electroporation (MEP) resulted in improved cell viability. Further miniaturization of the electroporation system (i.e., nanoscale) has brought up many unique advantages, including negligible cell damage and dosage control capabilities with single-cell resolution, which has enabled more translational applications. In this review, we give an insight into the fundamental and technical aspects of micro- and nanoscale/nanochannel electroporation (NEP) and go over several examples of MEP/NEP-based cutting-edge research, including gene editing, adoptive immunotherapy, and cellular reprogramming. The challenges and opportunities of advanced electroporation technologies are also discussed.

Micro- and Nanoscale Technologies for Delivery into Adherent Cells

Several recent micro- and nanotechnologies have provided novel methods for biological studies of adherent cells because the small features of these new biotools provide unique capabilities for accessing cells without the need for suspension or lysis. These novel approaches have enabled gentle but effective delivery of molecules into specific adhered target cells, with unprecedented spatial resolution. We review here recent progress in the development of these technologies with an emphasis on in vitro delivery into adherent cells utilizing mechanical penetration or electroporation. We discuss the major advantages and limitations of these approaches and propose possible strategies for improvements. Finally, we discuss the impact of these technologies on biological research concerning cell-specific temporal studies, for example non-destructive sampling and analysis of intracellular molecules.

A review of basic to clinical studies of irreversible electroporation therapy

The use of irreversible electroporation (IRE) for cancer treatment has increased sharply over the past decade. As a nonthermal therapy, IRE offers several potential benefits over other focal therapies, which include 1) short treatment delivery time, 2) reduced collateral thermal injury, and 3) the ability to treat tumors adjacent to major blood vessels. These advantages have stimulated widespread interest in basic through clinical studies of IRE. For instance, many in vitro and in vivo studies now identify treatment planning protocols (IRE threshold, pulse parameters, etc.), electrode delivery (electrode design, placement, intraoperative imaging methods, etc.), injury evaluation (methods and timing), and treatment efficacy in different cancer models. Therefore, this study reviews the in vitro, translational, and clinical studies of IRE cancer therapy based on major experimental studies particularly within the past decade. Further, this study provides organized data and facts to assist further research, optimization, and clinical applications of IRE.

Imaging potassium-flux through individual electropores in droplet interface bilayers

Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy of droplet interface bilayers containing the potassium-sensitive fluorophore APG-4, we imaged the ionic flux through individual electropores. We are able to monitor up to 30 individual pores in parallel and show voltage dependent responses in fluorescence that corresponds to the measured ionic current. These experiments help quantify the scope and current limitations of optical single channel recordings of potassium flux. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Pore-Forming Toxins edited by Mauro Dalla Serra and Franco Gambale.

Flow-through electroporation of mammalian cells in decoupled flow streams using microcapillaries

We report on reversible electroporation of cells in a flow-through microfluidic device, whereby the required electric field is delivered through a set of integrated microcapillaries between a centre stream of cells and side streams of liquid electrolytes. The electrolytes are applied with a sine wave voltage and cells flow by the microcapillary openings encounter a burst of ac field with a duration and strength determined by their average speed and spatial proximity to the microcapillary openings, respectively. Effectiveness of the approach is presented through numerical simulations and empirical results on electroporation efficiency and cell viability against various flow rates (exposure time to the field) as well as frequencies and root-mean-square (rms) intensities of the field. High frequencies (80-400 kHz) and high intensities (e.g., 1.6 kV/cm, rms) are identified with increased electroporation efficiency 61% and viability 86% on average. These results suggest that the device demonstrated here with a simple design and robust operation offers a viable platform for flow-through electroporation.

Electroosmotic perfusion of tissue: sampling the extracellular space and quantitative assessment of membrane-bound enzyme activity in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures

This review covers recent advances in sampling fluid from the extracellular space of brain tissue by electroosmosis (EO). Two techniques, EO sampling with a single fused-silica capillary and EO push-pull perfusion, have been developed. These tools were used to investigate the function of membrane-bound enzymes with outward-facing active sites, or ectoenzymes, in modulating the activity of the neuropeptides leu-enkephalin and galanin in organotypic-hippocampal-slice cultures (OHSCs). In addition, the approach was used to determine the endogenous concentration of a thiol, cysteamine, in OHSCs. We have also investigated the degradation of coenzyme A in the extracellular space. The approach provides information on ectoenzyme activity, including Michaelis constants, in tissue, which, as far as we are aware, has not been done before. On the basis of computational evidence, EO push-pull perfusion can distinguish ectoenzyme activity with a ~100 μm spatial resolution, which is important for studies of enzyme kinetics in adjacent regions of the rat hippocampus.

Optimization of single-cell electroporation protocol for forced gene expression in primary neuronal cultures

The development and function of the central nervous system (CNS) are realized through interactions between many neurons. To investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of the development and function of the CNS, it is thus crucial to be able to manipulate the gene expression of single neurons in a complex cell population. We recently developed a technique for gene silencing by introducing small interfering RNA into single neurons in primary CNS cultures using single-cell electroporation. However, we had not succeeded in forced gene expression by introducing expression plasmids using single-cell electroporation. In the present study, we optimized the experimental conditions to enable the forced expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in cultured cerebellar Purkinje neurons using single-cell electroporation. We succeeded in strong GFP expression in Purkinje neurons by increasing the inside diameter of micropipettes or by making the size of the original plasmid smaller by digestion and cyclizing it by ligation. Strong GFP expression in Purkinje neurons electroporated under the optimal conditions continued to be observed for more than 25 days after electroporation. Thus, this technique could be used for forced gene expression in single neurons to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of the development, function, and disease of the CNS.

Microfluidic electroporation for cellular analysis and delivery

Electroporation is a simple yet powerful technique for breaching the cell membrane barrier. The applications of electroporation can be generally divided into two categories: the release of intracellular proteins, nucleic acids and other metabolites for analysis and the delivery of exogenous reagents such as genes, drugs and nanoparticles with therapeutic purposes or for cellular manipulation. In this review, we go over the basic physics associated with cell electroporation and highlight recent technological advances on microfluidic platforms for conducting electroporation. Within the context of its working mechanism, we summarize the accumulated knowledge on how the parameters of electroporation affect its performance for various tasks. We discuss various strategies and designs for conducting electroporation at the microscale and then focus on analysis of intracellular contents and delivery of exogenous agents as two major applications of the technique. Finally, an outlook for future applications of microfluidic electroporation in increasingly diverse utilities is presented.

Sequential multi-molecule delivery using vortex-assisted electroporation

We developed an on-chip microscale electroporation system that enables sequential delivery of multiple molecules with precise and independent dosage controllability into pre-selected identical populations of target cells. The ability to trap cells with uniform size distribution contributed to enhanced molecular delivery efficiency and cell viability. Additionally, the system provides real-time monitoring ability of the entire delivery process, allowing timely and independent modification of cell- and molecule-specific electroporation parameters. The precisely controlled amount of inherently membrane-impermeant molecules was transferred into human cancer cells by varying electric field strengths and molecule injection durations. The proposed microfluidic electroporation system's improved viability and comparable gene transfection efficiency to that of commercial systems suggest that the current system has great potential to expand the research fields that on-chip electroporation techniques can be used in.

Electroporation followed by electrochemical measurement of quantal transmitter release from single cells using a patterned microelectrode

An electrochemical microelectrode located immediately adjacent to a single neuroendocrine cell can record spikes of amperometric current that result from exocytosis of oxidizable transmitter from individual vesicles, i.e., quantal exocytosis. Here, we report the development of an efficient method where the same electrochemical microelectrode is used to electropermeabilize an adjacent chromaffin cell and then measure the consequent quantal catecholamine release using amperometry. Trains of voltage pulses, 5-7 V in amplitude and 0.1-0.2 ms in duration, were used to reliably trigger release from cells using gold electrodes. Amperometric spikes induced by electropermeabilization had similar areas, peak heights and durations as amperometric spikes elicited by depolarizing high K(+) solutions, therefore release occurs from individual secretory granules. Uptake of trypan blue stain into cells demonstrated that the plasma membrane is permeabilized by the voltage stimulus. Voltage pulses did not degrade the electrochemical sensitivity of the electrodes assayed using a test analyte. Surprisingly, robust quantal release was elicited upon electroporation in the absence of Ca(2+) in the bath solution (0 Ca(2+)/5 mM EGTA). In contrast, electropermeabilization-induced transmitter release required Cl(-) in the bath solution in that bracketed experiments demonstrated a steep dependence of the rate of electropermeabilization-induced transmitter release on [Cl(-)] between 2 and 32 mM. Using the same electrochemical electrode to electroporate and record quantal release of catecholamines from an individual chromaffin cell allows precise timing of the stimulus, stimulation of a single cell at a time, and can be used to load membrane-impermeant substances into a cell.

Single-cell electroporation using a multifunctional pipette

We present here a novel platform combination, using a multifunctional pipette to individually electroporate single-cells and to locally deliver an analyte, while in their culture environment. We demonstrate a method to fabricate low-resistance metallic electrodes into a PDMS pipette, followed by characterization of its effectiveness, benefits and limits in comparison with an external carbon microelectrode.

Single-cell electroporation using proton beam fabricated biochips

We report the design and fabrication of a novel single cell electroporation biochip featuring high aspect ratio nickel micro-electrodes with smooth side walls between which individual cells are attached. The biochip is fabricated using Proton Beam Writing (PBW), a new direct write lithographic technique capable of fabricating high quality high-aspect-ratio nano and microstructures. By applying electrical impulses across the biochip electrodes, SYTOX® Green nucleic acid stain is incorporated into mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) cells and observed via green fluorescence when the stain binds with DNA inside the cell nucleus. Three parameters; electric field strength, pulse duration, and numbers of pulses have been investigated for the single cell electroporation process. The results indicate high transfection rates as well as cell viability of 82.1 and 86.7% respectively. This single cell electroporation system may represent a promising method for the introduction of a wide variety of fluorophores, nanoparticles, quantum dots, DNAs and proteins into cells.

Single cell electroporation using microfluidic devices

Electroporation is a powerful technique to increase the permeability of cell membranes and subsequently introduce foreign materials into cells. Pores are created in the cell membrane upon application of an electric field (kV/cm). Most applications employ bulk electroporation, at the scale of 1 mL of cells (ca. one million cells). However, recent progresses have shown the interest to miniaturize the technique to a single cell. Single cell electroporation is achieved either using microelectrodes which are placed in close vicinity to one cell, or in a microfluidic format. We focus here on this second approach, where individual cells are trapped in micrometer-size structures within a microchip, exposed in situ to a high electric field and loaded with either a dye (proof-of-principle experiments) or a plasmid. Specifically, we present one device that includes an array of independent electroporation sites for customized and successive poration of nine cells. The different steps of the single cell electroporation protocol are detailed including cell sample preparation, cell trapping, actual cell poration and on-chip detection of pore formation. Electroporation is illustrated here with the transport of dyes through the plasma membrane, the transfection of cells with GFP-encoding plasmids, and the study of the ERK1 signaling pathway using a GFP-ERK1 protein construct expressed by the cells after their transfection with the corresponding plasmid. This last example highlights the power of microfluidics with the implementation of various steps of a process (cell poration, culture, imaging) performed at the single cell level, on a single device.

Single-cell electroporation in Xenopus

Single-cell electroporation (SCE) is a versatile technique for delivering electrically charged macromolecules including DNA, RNA, synthetic oligonucleotides, peptides, dyes, and drugs to individual cells within intact tissues. Here, we describe methods for in vivo-targeted electroporation of single tectal neurons within the albino Xenopus laevis tadpole. Focal electroporation is achieved using a pipette electrode filled with a solution of the delivery molecules and with a tip diameter much smaller than the width of the target cell. The small tip allows for localization of an electric field, which restricts pore formation to only the individual cell in direct contact with the tip. Thus, the small tip permits focal delivery of the charged molecules within the pipette into individual cells. Factors affecting the efficiency of SCE, as well as various applications of this technique, are discussed. Particular focus is directed toward combining SCE with in vivo two-photon microscopy for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of neuron growth and cell-autonomous effects of altered protein function.

Long-term gene-silencing effects of siRNA introduced by single-cell electroporation into postmitotic CNS neurons

To explore how long the gene-silencing effects of siRNA introduced into postmitotic neurons continue, we transferred siRNA against GFP into GFP-expressing Purkinje and Golgi cells in cerebellar cell cultures by single-cell electroporation. The temporal changes in the intensity of GFP fluorescence in the same electroporated cells were monitored in real time using GFP imaging. Under standard conditions, GFP fluorescence was reduced to under one-tenth of the initial levels 4-7 days after electroporation. Such effects continued at least up to 14 days after electroporation. The effects of siRNAs against endogenous genes also continued for the same period. Thus, this method could be an effective tool for silencing gene expression for a long period in postmitotic neurons.

Single cells and intracellular processes studied by a plasmonic-based electrochemical impedance microscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is a crucial tool for the detection and study of various biological substances, from DNA and proteins to viruses and bacteria. It does not require any labelling species, and methods based on it have been developed to study cellular processes (such as cell spreading, adhesion, invasion, toxicology and mobility). However, data have so far lacked spatial information, which is essential for investigating heterogeneous processes and imaging high-throughput microarrays. Here, we report an electrochemical impedance microscope based on surface plasmon resonance that resolves local impedance with submicrometre spatial resolution. We have used an electrochemical impedance microscope to monitor the dynamics of cellular processes (apoptosis and electroporation of individual cells) with millisecond time resolution. The high spatial and temporal resolution makes it possible to study individual cells, but also resolve subcellular structures and processes without labels, and with excellent detection sensitivity (~2 pS). We also describe a model that simulates cellular and electrochemical impedance microscope images based on local dielectric constant and conductivity.

Distinguishing splanchnic nerve and chromaffin cell stimulation in mouse adrenal slices with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry

Electrical stimulation is an indispensible tool in studying electrically excitable tissues in neurobiology and neuroendocrinology. In this work, the consequences of high-intensity electrical stimulation on the release of catecholamines from adrenal gland slices were examined with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes. A biphasic signal, consisting of a fast and slow phase, was observed when electrical stimulations typically used in tissue slices (10 Hz, 350 μA biphasic, 2.0 ms/phase pulse width) were applied to bipolar tungsten-stimulating electrodes. This signal was found to be stimulation dependent, and the slow phase of the signal was abolished when smaller (≤250 μA) and shorter (1 ms/phase) stimulations were used. The slow phase of the biphasic signal was found to be tetrodotoxin and hexamethonium independent, while the fast phase was greatly reduced using these pharmacological agents. Two different types of calcium responses were observed, where the fast phase was abolished by perfusion with a low-calcium buffer while both the fast and slow phases could be modulated when Ca²(+) was completely excluded from the solution using EGTA. Perfusion with nifedipine resulted in the reduction of the slow catecholamine release to 29% of the original signal, while the fast phase was only decreased to 74% of predrug values. From these results, it was determined that high-intensity stimulations of the adrenal medulla result in depolarizing not only the splanchnic nerves, but also the chromaffin cells themselves resulting in a biphasic catecholamine release.

Direct access and control of the intracellular solution environment in single cells

Methods that can control and vary the solution environment around single cells are abundant. In contrast, methods that offer direct access to the intracellular proteome and genome in single cells with the control, flexibility, and convenience given by microfluidic methods are both scarce and in great demand. Here, we present such a method based on using a microfluidic device mounted on a programmable scanning stage and cells on-chip permeabilized by the pore-forming glycoside digitonin. We characterized the on-chip digitonin poration, as well as the solution exchange within cells. Intracellular solution exchange times vary with the dose of exposure to digitonin from less than a second to tens of seconds. Also, the degree of permeabilization obtained for cells treated with the same dose varies considerably, especially for low doses of digitonin exposure and low permeabilities. With the use of the presented setup, the degree of permeabilization can be measured during the permeabilization process, which allows for "on-line" optimization of the digitonin exposure time. Using this calibrated permeabilization method, we demonstrate the generation of intracellular oscillations, intracellular gradients, and the delivery of substrate to initiate enzymatic reactions in situ. This method holds the potential to screen and titrate intracellular receptors or enzymes or to generate intracellular oscillations, useful in the study of signaling pathways and oscillation decoding among other applications.

Recording electric potentials from single adherent cells with 3D microelectrode arrays after local electroporation

This short communication reports on the innovative method of the local micro-invasive needle electroporation (LOMINE) of single adherent cells. The investigation of cellular reactions in living cell cultures represents a fundamental method, e.g. for drug development and environmental monitoring. Existing classical methods for intracellular measurements using, e.g. patch clamp techniques are time-consuming and complex. Present patch-on-chip systems are limited to the investigation of single cells in suspension. Nevertheless, the most part of the cells of the human body is adherently growing. Therefore, we develop a new chip system for the growth of adherent cells with 64 micro-structured needle electrodes as well as 128 dielectrophoretic electrodes, located within a measuring area of 1 mm(2). With this analytical chip, the intracellular investigation of electro-chemical changes and processes in adherently growing cells will become possible in the near future. Here, we present first intracellular measurements with this chip system.

Correlated firing in tufted cells of mouse olfactory bulb

Temporally correlated spike discharges are proposed to be important for the coding of olfactory stimuli. In the olfactory bulb, correlated spiking is known in two classes of output neurons, the mitral cells and external tufted cells. We studied a third major class of bulb output neurons, the middle tufted cells, analyzing their bursting and spike timing correlations, and their relation to mitral cells. Using patch-clamp and fluorescent tracing, we recorded spontaneous spiking from tufted-tufted or mitral-tufted cell pairs with visualized dendritic projections in mouse olfactory bulb slices. We found peaks in spike cross-correlograms indicating correlated activity on both fast (peak width 1-50 ms) and slow (peak width>50 ms) time scales, only in pairs with convergent glomerular projections. Coupling appeared tighter in tufted-tufted pairs, which showed correlated firing patterns and smaller mean width and lag of narrow peaks. Some narrow peaks resolved into 2-3 sub-peaks (width 1-12 ms), indicating multiple modes of fast correlation. Slow correlations were related to bursting activity, while fast correlations were independent of slow correlations, occurring in both bursting and non-bursting cells. The AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX (20 microM) failed to abolish broad or narrow peaks in either tufted-tufted or mitral-tufted pairs, and changes of peak height and width in NBQX were not significantly different from spontaneous drift. Thus, AMPA-receptors are not required for fast and slow spike correlations. Electrical coupling was observed in all convergent tufted-tufted and mitral-tufted pairs tested, suggesting a potential role for gap junctions in concerted firing. Glomerulus-specific correlation of spiking offers a useful mechanism for binding the output signals of diverse neurons processing and transmitting different sensory information encoded by common olfactory receptors.

Single-cell electroporation

Single-cell electroporation (SCEP) is a relatively new technique that has emerged in the last decade or so for single-cell studies. When a large enough electric field is applied to a single cell, transient nano-pores form in the cell membrane allowing molecules to be transported into and out of the cell. Unlike bulk electroporation, in which a homogenous electric field is applied to a suspension of cells, in SCEP an electric field is created locally near a single cell. Today, single-cell-level studies are at the frontier of biochemical research, and SCEP is a promising tool in such studies. In this review, we discuss pore formation based on theoretical and experimental approaches. Current SCEP techniques using microelectrodes, micropipettes, electrolyte-filled capillaries, and microfabricated devices are all thoroughly discussed for adherent and suspended cells. SCEP has been applied in in-vivo and in-vitro studies for delivery of cell-impermeant molecules such as drugs, DNA, and siRNA, and for morphological observations.

Electroporation based on hydrodynamic focusing of microfluidics with low dc voltage

Microfluidics-based cell electroporation has many advantages in delivering small molecules into cells. In this study, hydrodynamic focusing of fluids with different conductivities has been used for high through-put cell electroporation at low voltage (<3 V) of continuous direct current (dc) power. Simulation results showed that an input voltage of only 1.5 V could generate an electric field intensity of about 1.17 kV cm(-1) across the cell suspension flow in the squeezed area. The electropermeation of yeast cell was observed, showing a permeabilization percentage up to 70%.

Cell culture on MEMS platforms: a review

Microfabricated systems provide an excellent platform for the culture of cells, and are an extremely useful tool for the investigation of cellular responses to various stimuli. Advantages offered over traditional methods include cost-effectiveness, controllability, low volume, high resolution, and sensitivity. Both biocompatible and bio-incompatible materials have been developed for use in these applications. Biocompatible materials such as PMMA or PLGA can be used directly for cell culture. However, for bio-incompatible materials such as silicon or PDMS, additional steps need to be taken to render these materials more suitable for cell adhesion and maintenance. This review describes multiple surface modification strategies to improve the biocompatibility of MEMS materials. Basic concepts of cell-biomaterial interactions, such as protein adsorption and cell adhesion are covered. Finally, the applications of these MEMS materials in Tissue Engineering are presented.

Single cells as experimentation units in lab-on-a-chip devices

'Lab-on-a-chip' technology (LOC) has now reached a mature state and is employed commonly in research in the life sciences. LOC devices make novel experimentation possible while providing a sophisticated environment for cellular investigation. As a next step, we introduce here the concept of a 'lab-in-a-cell': the use of a single cell as a minimal and highly confined experimental unit, or experimentation in the simple, but still unequalled, platform provided by nature itself. LOC provides the appropriate format and set of tools for LIC experimentation, and we discuss here three types of LIC investigation: the elucidation of signaling pathways; the creation of novel production units; and the use of microfluidics for assisted reproduction techniques.

Dendrite formation of cerebellar Purkinje cells

During postnatal cerebellar development, Purkinje cells form the most elaborate dendritic trees among neurons in the brain, which have been of great interest to many investigators. This article overviews various examples of cellular and molecular mechanisms of formation of Purkinje cell dendrites as well as the methodological aspects of investigating those mechanisms.

Control of the release of freely diffusing molecules in single-cell electroporation

Single-cell electroporation using an electrolyte-filled capillary is an emerging technique for transient pore formation in adherent cells. Because adherent cells do not have a simple and consistent shape and because the electric field emanating from the tip of the capillary is inhomogeneous, the Schwan equation based on spherical cells in homogeneous electrical fields does not apply. We sought to determine experimental and cell parameters that influence the outcome of a single-cell electroporation experiment. A549 cells were exposed to the thiol-reactive dye Thioglo-1, leading to green fluorescence from intracellular thiol adducts. Electroporation causes a decrease with time of the intracellular fluorescence intensity of Thioglo-1-loaded cells from diffusive loss of thiol adducts. The transient curves thus obtained are well-described by a simple model originally developed by Puc et al. We find that the final fluorescence following electroporation is related to the capillary tip-to-cell distance and cell size (specifically, 2(A/pi)(1/2) where A is the area of the cell's image in pixels. This quantity is the diameter if the image is a circle). In separate experiments, the relationship obtained can be used to control the final fluorescence following electroporation by adjusting the tip-to-cell distance based on cell size. The relationship was applied successfully to A549 as well as DU 145 and PC-3 cells. Finally, F-tests show that the variability in the final fluorescence (following electroporation) is decreased when the tip-to-cell distance is controlled according to the derived relationship in comparison to experiments in which the tip-cell distance is a constant irrespective of cell size.

Electronic interfacing with living cells

The direct interfacing of living cells with inorganic electronic materials, components or systems has led to the development of two broad categories of devices that can (1) transduce biochemical signals generated by biological components into electrical signals and (2) transduce electronically generated signals into biochemical signals. The first category of devices permits the monitoring of living cells, the second, enables control of cellular processes. This review will survey this exciting area with emphasis on the fundamental issues and obstacles faced by researchers. Devices and applications that use both prokaryotic (microbial) and eukaryotic (mammalian) cells will be covered. Individual devices described include microbial biofuel cells that produce electricity, bioelectrical reactors that enable electronic control of cellular metabolism, living cell biosensors for the detection of chemicals and devices that permit monitoring and control of mammalian physiology.