Method and device for high field strength electrotransfection of microvescicles and cells
Inventors
Coppeta, Jonathan R. • Biliouris, Timothy J. • King, Daniel F. • Tandon, Vishal
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Assignees
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc
Member
DraperDraper is an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company with a legacy spanning over 90 years, dedicated to delivering transformative solutions for national security, prosperity, and global challenges. Renowned for its pioneering work in guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) systems, Draper partners with government, industry, and academia to engineer advanced technologies in space, defense, biotechnology, and electronic systems. The company leverages multidisciplinary expertise, digital engineering, and a collaborative approach to provide field-ready prototypes, mission-critical systems, and innovative research. Draper’s mission is to ensure the nation's security and prosperity by delivering sustainable, cutting-edge solutions that address the toughest problems of today and tomorrow, while fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. Draper also invests in the next generation of innovators through robust educational programs, including internships, co-ops, and the Draper Scholars Program, integrating academic research with real-world problem-solving.
Draper is an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company with a legacy spanning over 90 years, dedicated to delivering transformative solutions for national security, prosperity, and global challenges. Renowned for its pioneering work in guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) systems, Draper partners with government, industry, and academia to engineer advanced technologies in space, defense, biotechnology, and electronic systems. The company leverages multidisciplinary expertise, digital engineering, and a collaborative approach to provide field-ready prototypes, mission-critical systems, and innovative research. Draper’s mission is to ensure the nation's security and prosperity by delivering sustainable, cutting-edge solutions that address the toughest problems of today and tomorrow, while fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. Draper also invests in the next generation of innovators through robust educational programs, including internships, co-ops, and the Draper Scholars Program, integrating academic research with real-world problem-solving.
Publication Number
US-11878300-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device, system and process involve conducting electroporation of microvesicles or exosomes or other target structures in a microfluidic arrangement at pressures that exceed atmospheric pressure. Single as well as multiple flow configurations can be employed. In some cases, the system and its operation are computer-controlled for partial or complete automation.
Core Innovation
A device, system and process involve conducting electroporation of microvesicles or exosomes or other target structures in a microfluidic arrangement at pressures that exceed atmospheric pressure. Single as well as multiple flow configurations can be employed and, in some cases, the system and its operation are computer-controlled for partial or complete automation.
The invention addresses difficulties encountered when applying existing electroporation approaches to exosomes, including physical differences in relevant length scales that make equivalent transmembrane potentials inaccessible with commercially available electroporation systems, and limitations of existing systems such as direct contact of biologics with electrodes that can cause damage, lack of microfluidics to transport heat away from thermally susceptible biological entities, lack of co-localization of exosomes and payload, and lack of high throughput transfection. Practicing the invention facilitates electroporation of exosomes and permits removing some or all of the contents of target structures by opening pores to allow internal contents to diffuse out.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim identified with three main inventive features.
Flow channel
Providing a flow channel.
Elevated pressure in flow channel
Generating elevated pressures in the flow channel [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Electroporation under elevated pressure
Electroporating targets in the flow channel while the targets are under the elevated pressure by applying an electric field to the electroporation targets in the flow channel using a voltage generator and electrodes associated with the flow channel.
The independent claim covers an electroporation approach that combines a defined flow channel, operation at elevated pressures, and application of an electric field via a voltage generator and electrodes to electroporate targets within the pressurized flow.
Stated Advantages
Facilitates the electroporation of exosomes and addresses problems encountered with conventional systems.
Robust, flexible and versatile embodiments that can be applied or adapted to materials other than exosomes, cells or other vesicles.
Enables removing some or all of the contents of target structures by opening pores and allowing internal contents to diffuse out.
Provides microfluidics to transport heat away from thermally susceptible biological entities.
Avoids direct contact of biologics with electrodes, reducing potential damage from local heating and Faradaic by-products.
Supports co-localization of exosomes and payload to improve use of payload and enhance loading efficiency.
Enables high throughput transfection relative to approaches described as lacking high throughput.
Documented Applications
Transferring (uploading or unloading) materials into or out of target structures such as exosomes, other vesicles or cells.
Use in prognosis, therapy, or as biomarkers, and potential use in targeted cell therapy.
Loading siRNA into exosomes as a cancer therapy to knock down oncogenes in vivo (illustrative example).
Adapting principles to remove contents from targets to address regulatory or characterization concerns during therapeutic development.
Adapting implementations to reagent-based delivery methods such as delivery by lipids, calcium phosphate precipitation, cationic polymers, magnetic beads, virus-based approaches, and other applications.
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