A symmetrical hyperbolic formatted microchip for rapid optimization of electroporation

Abstract

We have developed a novel microchip aiming to rapidly optimize of electric parameters for electroporation. The electrodes were designed as symmetrical hyperbolic formatted to generate linearly decrescent electric field. Cells were cultured on the microchip for adherent electroporation and in-situ observation. Exhibited diversely in cell viability and transfection efficiency, three areas were observed obviously since the intensity of electric field was varied. Assisted by markers designed on electrodes, the location of optimal electroporation performance area and the corresponding range of electric field intensity were determined. Using the proposed electroporation chip, we obtained the optimal electric field spectrum for electroporation of HEK-293A cell line, that was about 0.75 ~ 1.25 × 105 V/m. The diversity of electroporation performance was evaluated by the dependence of cell viability and transfection efficiency on electric field intensity. With the guidance of reference electric field value, we designed a specific annular-interdigitated microchip to testify the electroporation characteristics. At last, we achieved excellent electroporation performance under the optimal conditions using self-made electroporation microchip.