Method for deforming and/or fragmenting a cell, spore or virus with a vibrating plate
Inventors
Sanders, Giles Hugo William • Graham, Abi Clair • Stella, Rita
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10640745-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for the deformation and/or fragmentation of a cell, spore or virus, the method comprising: (i) bringing a liquid sample containing the cell, spore or virus into contact with a first surface of a vibratable plate having at least one aperture, and causing the plate to vibrate; and (ii) passing the sample of the cell, spore or virus through the at least one aperture in the vibrating plate so as to cause deformation and/or fragmentation of the cell, spore or virus. It also concerns a device for carrying out the method.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for deforming and/or fragmenting a cell, a virus, or a mixture thereof. The method brings a liquid sample containing the cell, virus, or mixture into contact with a first surface of a vibratable plate having at least one aperture, causes the plate to vibrate, and passes the liquid sample through the at least one aperture to affect the cell and/or virus.
During passage through the at least one aperture, the invention causes deformation of the cell and/or virus by shear force, mechanical impact and/or ultrasonic effects, and/or fragmentation of the cell and/or virus. A liquid comprising the deformed or fragmented cell and/or virus is collected after the passage.
The disclosed approach includes defining deformation versus fragmentation using an aperture whose average diameter is relative to the diameter of an average cell or virus in the liquid sample. Relaxation after passage makes the cell and/or virus outer membrane and/or wall permeable to external macromolecular species, thereby enabling intracellular delivery of such species.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a method that applies vibration to a plate with at least one aperture to deform and/or fragment cells or viruses, followed by collecting the resulting liquid. The claim set includes six inventive features, with dependent claims further specifying vibration conditions, aperture-size relationships, fragmentation thresholds, relaxation-driven permeability, and optional transfection types.
Apertured vibratable plate with liquid passage for deformation or fragmentation
Bringing a liquid sample containing a cell, a virus, or a mixture thereof into contact with a first surface of a vibratable plate having at least one aperture, causing the plate to vibrate, passing the liquid sample through the at least one aperture to cause deformation by shear force, mechanical impact and/or ultrasonic effects and/or fragmentation of the cell and/or virus, and collecting a liquid comprising the deformed or fragmented cell and/or virus.
Vibration amplitude and frequency range
Causing the plate to vibrate with an amplitude of 0.1 to 5 μm and a frequency of 5 to 200 kHz.
Aperture diameter relative to cell or virus diameter for deformation
Using at least one aperture with an average diameter of 20 to 170% relative to the diameter of an average cell or virus in the liquid sample.
Aperture diameter threshold for fragmentation
Fragmenting a cell and/or a virus using an aperture whose average diameter is less than 70% relative to the average diameter of the cell or virus.
Relaxation-driven permeability to external macromolecular species
After passing through the at least one aperture, relaxation makes the cell and/or virus outer membrane and/or wall permeable to external macromolecular species.
Optional transfection via chemical, non-chemical, or particle-based transfection
Further including chemical-based transfection, non-chemical-based transfection, and/or particle-based transfection.
Overall claim coverage centers on deforming and/or fragmenting cells and/or viruses by passing a liquid sample through at least one aperture in a vibratable plate, with dependent claims defining vibration amplitude/frequency, aperture-size relationships to cell/virus size, a fragmentation threshold, a relaxation mechanism for permeability to external macromolecular species, and optional transfection types.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?