A single-cell electroporation device with integrated perfusion channels for efficient intracellular delivery

We present here a single-cell electroporation device with integrated perfusion channels to efficiently deliver impermeable substances into a cell. Each sequestered cell is subjected to an electric field to induce localized transient non-selective pores in a portion of the cell membrane. After pores are locally induced on a portion of the cell membrane, individually addressable capillary channels release pre-loaded compounds of interest into the cell. This approach conserves reagents: moreover cells remain separated from reagents until time of introduction. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our device design, we electroporate Hela (human cervical cancer) cells using low applied voltages (< 1 V) and characterize permeation by measuring time dependent current traces. Subsequently, we insert cell impermeable propidium iodide and characterize its delivery via fluorescent intensity measurements.