Study of Plasmon-Assisted Cell Transfection

在这个项目中，PI将结合物理学和生命科学的技术和专业知识，促进基础知识的发展，并为基因和药物输送提供一种新技术。所提出的方法是基于血浆介导的细胞转染法。飞秒激光细胞转染法是一种很有吸引力的方法，但目前该技术仅限于单细胞转染法。PI将解决高通量、低毒性和高效率DNA输送到细胞的重要目标，方法是使用等离子激元装置，这种装置具有微米级的极局部场增强点，在超快激光照射时使细胞膜穿孔。通过对电场增强、衬底制备、光-等离子体-细胞相互作用和DNA扩散的并行理论建模和实验分析，该项目将提供一个强大的工具，具有广泛的适用性，可用于大量细胞系的转基因。这个项目中提出的方法将解决具有挑战性的遗传学问题，并有可能在遗传学领域以及更广泛地说，任何涉及转基因的生物医学研究中产生革命性的影响。它将使高效、安全和高通量地将遗传载体导入哺乳动物细胞。这是研究和优化基因表达修饰的第一步。同时，它将为光介导的转基因机制提供进一步的洞察力。这项工作还将通过本科生和研究生的研究性教育，为未来多学科科学家的教育和培训做出贡献。这项工作将向广大公众广泛传播。

In this project the PI will combine techniques and expertise from physics and the life sciences to advance fundamental knowledge and providing a new technique for gene and drug delivery. The proposed approach is based on plasmon-mediated cell transfection. Cell transfection by femtosecond laser is an attractive alternative; however, this technique is currently limited to single-cell transfection. The PI will address the important goal of high-throughput, low-toxicity, and high-efficiency DNA delivery to cells by using plasmon devices that possess micrometer-sized points of extreme local field enhancements to porate cell membranes when irradiated by an ultrafast laser. By running parallel theoretical modeling of the field enhancement, fabrication of the substrates, and experimental analysis of the light-plasmon-cell interaction and DNA diffusion, the project will provide a powerful tool with broad applicability to transfection of numerous cell lines. The method proposed in this project will address challenging genetics questions and has the potential for transformative impact in the field of genetics and, more broadly, any biomedical research involving transfection. It will enable efficient, safe, and high-throughput introduction of genetic vectors into mammalian cells. This is the first step toward studying and optimizing the modification of genetic expression. Simultaneously, it will provide further insight in the light mediated transfection mechanisms. This work will also contribute to the education and the training of future multidisciplinary scientists through research-based education of undergraduate and graduate students. The work will be broadly disseminated to the general public.