Multiple Cell Transfection Microdevice based on a Single Silicon Microchip Integrated with a MicroPi

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Multiple Cell Transfection Microdevice based on
a Single Silicon Microchip Integrated with
aMicro-Piercing Injector Array
Adapted from a presentation by Lillian
Aldaia Georgetown University Department of
Physics, Washington, DC 20057 GAEL - Georgetown
Advanced Electronics Laboratory, Washington, DC
20057
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Cell Transfection

• Uptake of biomaterial (mostly genetic) into the
  cell.
• Allows insertion of DNA, RNA, therapeutic agents,
  and diagnostic agents.
• DNA uptake can be accomplished via
• Chemical precipitation
• Electroporation
• Mechanical microinjection

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How are MEMS useful?

• Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems.
• Allows integration of mechanical elements,
  sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common
  silicon substrate
• Utilizes microfabrication technology, the same
  used in standard integrated circuit technology.
• Small size is in the order of biological systems,
  allowing for application in the same.

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Micro-Injection

• Current methods are a combination of being labor
  intensive, low success rate with an ability to
  inject only few cells/hr serially
• MEMS attempts to simultaneously inject many cells
  via an array of microneedles.

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Schematic outlay
Cell support structure
top glass substrate
Silicon needle tip
recipient cell
11 um
PDMS
Channels for fluid flow
25 um
channels
PDMS
60 um
micro-chamber injector
material for injection
Silicon wafer
Note not to scale
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Device layout on a 4 inch Silicon Wafer
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Future directions

• Initial processing completed
• Silicon and PDMS layers need to be aligned and
  bonded to each other
• Subsequently testing on biological samples can
  begin

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Applications

• Gene transfection
• In-vitro fertilization
• Targetted drug delivery
• Basic research in cell biology

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Cast Crew

• Dr. Makarand Paranjape, Ph.D.
• Alessandro Faes
• John Garra, Paul Goldey, Alicia Leeds, Andrew
  Monica, Brian Morgan, and Jasper Nijdam, Ph.D.
• Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities
  Program (GUROP)
• Whitaker Foundation, for support of this research.