Design and Performance of a High-Efficiency Cell-Electrofusion Device

Abstract:

A microfluidic cell-electrofusion device was developed for high fusion efficiency and automatic manipulation. It included an experimental platform, an electric signal generator and a microchip. Microstructure and controlling signal were elaborately chosen in order to realize precise cell manipulation, alignment and electrofusion. Compared with the traditional cell-electrofusion device, this device has some outstanding advantages. For example, short distance between two counter-microelectrodes will reduce the required voltage. A large number of microelectrodes can be fabricated on one small chip for high-throughput fusion. Transparent chip architecture benefited for microscopic observation and real-time recording. The integration of the experimental platform, signal generator and microchip is helpful for developing a portable cell-fusion system. On-chip electrofusion experiments of cucumber mesophyll protoplasts have been carried out and up to 40% fusion efficiency was obtained.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 52-54)
• Pages: 664-667
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.52-54.664
• Online since: March 2011
• Authors: Jun Yang, Jing Yang, Qing He You, Ning Hu, Yong Li, Jie Chen, Ting Yu Li, Jing Xu, Yi Cao
• Keywords: Dielectrophoretic Force, Electrofusion, Microchip, Micro-Fluidics

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