1 research outputs found
Microinjection for the <i>ex Vivo</i> Modification of Cells with Artificial Organelles
Microinjection
is extensively used across fields to deliver material
intracellularly. Here we address the fundamental aspects of introducing
exogenous organelles into cells to endow them with artificial functions.
Nanocarriers encapsulating biologically active cargo or extreme intraluminal
pH were injected directly into the cytosol of cells, where they bypassed
subcellular processing pathways and remained intact for several days.
Nanocarriers’ size was found to dictate their intracellular
distribution pattern upon injection, with larger vesicles adopting
polarized agglomerated distributions and smaller colloids spreading
evenly in the cytosol. This in turn determined the symmetry or asymmetry
of their dilution following cell division, ultimately affecting the
intracellular dose at a cell population level. As an example of microinjection’s
applicability, a cell type relevant for cell-based therapies (dendritic
cells) was injected with vesicles, and its migratory properties were
studied in a co-culture system mimicking lymphatic capillaries