Abstract:
Biological cells and other membranous structures are transfected in a flow-through system by first rendering the structures magnetically active such that they respond to a magnetic field, suspending the structures in a solution of an exogenous species with which the structures are to be transfected, then placing the suspension in a channel and using a moving magnetization pattern along the channel wall to cause the structures to travel through the channel. Along their path of travel, the structures pass a transmitter that emits transfection energy sufficient to cause the exogenous species in the suspension to permeate the structure membranes and enter the interiors of the structures.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, apparatus, and circuits for controlling an electrical signal transmitted to a sample load are provided. The electrical signal produced by a capacitor is controlled via a control signal sent to a variable resistance device that is connected in parallel with the sample load. The variable resistance device includes a resistance and a switch in series. The control signal opens and closes the switch, thus providing a variable resistance based on the amount of time the switch is closed.
Abstract:
Individual temperature control in multiple reactions performed simultaneously in a spatial array such as a multi-well plate is achieved by thermoelectric modules with individual control, with each module supplying heat to or drawing heat from a single region within the array, the region containing either a single reaction vessel or a group of reaction vessels.
Abstract:
A chamber that includes electrical contacts and a protective lid with a manually operated release is designed to receive a multi-well electroporation plate and to allow high-throughput electroporation on the well contents with minimal risk of electrical shock to the user and minimal opportunity for sample loss and contamination.
Abstract:
Biological cells and other membranous structures are transfected in a flow-through system by using a moving charge pattern on a longitudinal wall of a channel to cause the cells to travel through the channel due to an electrostatic interaction between the cells and the moving charge pattern. As the cells travel through the channel, they pass a transmitter that emits transfection energy sufficient to make the cell membranes permeable such that exogenous species in the fluid in which the cells are suspended will enter the cell interiors.
Abstract:
An electroporator for high-throughput electroporation is constructed with a well plate in which each well has internal electrodes that extend beyond the opening of the well to form contact areas, either as horizontal platforms extending laterally from the well rims or as extended heights of thin electrode plates. The electroporator also includes a lid that contains circuitry and electrical contacts that mate with the exposed contact areas in the well plate. The interchangeability of lids allows the wells to be shocked according to different protocols.
Abstract:
Cuvette inserts adapted and configured to fit within an electroporation cuvette. The inserts each include a support structure that holds a porous membrane. When positioned within the cuvette, the membrane is positioned proximal the cuvette electrodes to facilitate membrane-based fusion of cells . In certain aspects, a tube extends through the support structure to allow fo r application of negative pressure in a convenient location away from electrod e contacts and other components of the cuvette or cuvette holder.
Abstract:
Biological cells and other membranous structures are transfected in a flo w-through system by first rendering the structures magnetically active such that they respond to a magnetic field, suspending the structures in a soluti on of an exogenous species with which the structures are to be transfected, then placing the suspension in a channel and using a moving magnetization pa ttern along the channel wall to cause the structures to travel through the c hannel. Along their path of travel, the structures pass a transmitter that e mits transfection energy sufficient to cause the exogenous species in the su spension to permeate the structure membranes and enter the interiors of the structures.
Abstract:
An electroporation system and method for directing high-voltage currents to a suspension of cells contained in a cuvette. A high-voltage switch controls t he coupling of a charge control to a high-voltage capacitor and, additionally, controls the coupling of the high-voltage capacitor to the cuvette. A curren t diverter diverts current away from the sample whenever an arc condition commences or a low sample resistance is detected across the cuvette. The current diverter includes a current diverter switch, which is triggered when a sense resistor measures a second predetermined voltage indicative of an arc- over event (or a low sample resistance condition).