Abstract

Calculations indicate that selectively heating the extracellular media induces membrane temperature gradients that combine with electric fields and a temperature-induced reduction in the electro- permeabilization threshold to potentially facilitate exogenous molecular delivery. Experiments by a wide-field, pulsed femtosecond laser with peak power density far below typical single cell optical de- livery systems confirmed this hypothesis. Operating this laser in continuous wave mode at the same average power permeabilized many fewer cells, suggesting that bulk heating alone is insufficient and temperature gradients are crucial for permeabilization. This work suggests promising opportunities for a high throughput, low cost, contactless method for laser mediated exogenous molecule delivery without the complex optics of typical single cell optoinjection, for potential integration into microscope imaging and microfluidic systems.

Comments

This is the publishers version of Garner AL, Neculaes VB, Deminsky M, Dylov DV, Joo C, Loghin ER, Yazdanfar S, Conway KR. Plasma membrane temperature gradients and multiple cell permeabilization induced by low peak power density femtosecond lasers Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 5: 168-174. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2015.11.019

Keywords

Laser, optoporation, thermal gradients, electropermeabilization, transfection

Date of this Version

12-2-2015

DOI

10.1016/j.bbrep.2015.11.019

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