A study of transporting molecules into cell

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23246045
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kotera Hideyoshi 京都大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20252471)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): WASHIZU Masao 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科, 教授 (10201162)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ナノ・マイクロ科学 / マイクロ・ナノデバイス / 微細加工 / 細胞融合 / 初期化 / 再生医療 / 静電気 / iPS細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a novel gene delivery system based on on-chip electroporation, where plasmids are directly transported into the nucleus by electrophoresis. The basic concept is examined by micro orifice fabricated on vertical PDMS wall with quantum dot and FEM simulation. The cells are cultured on micro-orifices and placed between electrodes, to which a electric pulse was applied in a DMEM medium containing GFP plasmids. Most cells showed GFP expression after pulsation, suggesting that the plasmid was directly fed into the cell nucleus. Then we applied the system to produce iPS cells. After introduction of Yamanaka factors, cells were cultured on the orifice for three weeks after electroporation, and then reprogramming of nucleus was checked. The fact that the plasmids are instantaneously transported directly into nucleus of selected cells, with precisely controllable timing, suggests that the method will find its applications in re-programming or differentiation control studies.

Free Research Field

バイオナノテクノロジー