Injection of DNA into plant and animal tissues with micromechanical piercing structures

Abstract

Silicon micromachining has been used to fabricate microprobes for injecting DNA into cells. Arrays of very sharp pyramidal points are etched on a silicon substrate. Pressing these points into a culture of cells, allows biologically active material to cross the cell wall barrier. Using the microprobes, DNA has been injected into plant (tobacco leaves) and animal (nematodes) cells.