Period: 1.2017 – 12.2017

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Project team:

Prof. Dr. M. Cristina Cardoso | Dr. Bianca Bertulat | Dr. Henry D. Herce | Anne Peschke
FB 10 Biologie

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Jakoby | Sönke Schmidt M.Sc | Dr.-Ing. Martin Schüßler
FB 18 Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik

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Project description:

The delivery of substances into cells is in general a first step for further analysis and/or manipulation of cellular processes To this end, any substance needs to overcome the cell membrane. A task that is often accomplished by a physical method named “electroporation”. Recent evidence suggests that microwave fields might enhance poration efficiency and result in less cellular stress compared to standard electroporation procedures. However, the lack of suitable microwave-applicators prevented the exploration of microwave-based poration as an alternative method for substance delivery to cells so far. To further investigate microwave-based poration as an versatile alternative to electroporation, this project combined expertise in microwave engineering and cell biology and successfully: designed, developed and applied microwave applicators explored the microwave–based substance delivery in different cell systems, collect preliminary data to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of delivery.

Publications:

The Art of Delivery: Uptake into Cells by Controlled Pertubation of the Plasma Membrane In: 2. Tag der Interdisziplinarität, Forum für interdisziplinäre Forschung, Darmstadt, 5. November 2018