Vortex-assisted DNA delivery

Abstract

Electroporation is one of the most widely used methods to deliver exogenous DNA payloads into cells, but a major limitation is that only a small fraction of the total membrane surface is permeabilized. Here we show how this barrier can be easily overcome by harnessing hydrodynamic effects associated with Dean flows that occur along curved paths. Under these conditions, cells are subjected to a combination of transverse vortex motion and rotation that enables the entire membrane surface to become uniformly permeabilized. Greatly improved transfection efficiencies are achievable with only a simple modification to the design of existing continuous flow electroporation systems.