Nanoparticle-mediated in-vitro gene transfection on the micro electroporation chip

Gold nanoparticles modified with 21-based thiolated-oligonucleotides have been utilized as novel gene delivery vehicles for electroporation on microchips in the present study. The electroporation chip, consisting of a defined cell culture cavity region with thin film electrodes made of titanium and gold, was fabricated on a glass slide using microfabrication technologies. The electric field for the Au-DNA conjugates attracting was generated to induce the electrophoresis of Au-DNA conjugates and enhance the transfection efficient on the electroporation microchip. Both the UV-vis spectra of the surface plasmon resonance and TEM micrographs indicated that the nanoparticles associated with DNA could be delivered into cells utilizing electroporation. This investigation had demonstrated the nanoparticle-based gene delivery system.