Lateral Cavity Acoustic Transducer (LCAT) for Shear-Induced Cell Transfection

Brief Description

Inventors at UC Irvine have developed a new technique for inserting materials, such as genes, into cells that uses a lateral cavity acoustic transducer (LCAT).  This technology is efficient, does not result in lasting damage to cells, and the device is portable.

Suggested uses

• Gene therapy
• Molecular biology research
  

Features/Benefits

• Efficient (with further optimization work planned)
  
• Low risk of permanent damage to cell’s structural integrity
  
• Portable
  

Technology Description

Researchers at University of California, Irvine have invented a new method of cell transfection that is both efficient and avoids permanently damaging the integrity of the cell.  This new technique utilizes a lateral cavity acoustic transducer (LCAT) to momentarily trap and disrupt the membrane of cells.  This gives the cells a chance to uptake external material.  If this material is DNA, the cells will have the opportunity to incorporate the new material into its sequence.

State Of Development

Prototype has been developed and preliminary results demonstrate successful transfer of exogenous material (kDa dextran) to cells with an efficiency of about 20%.

 Next steps include:

• Optimization for higher transfection efficiency
• Commercialization
  

Patent Status