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Issue 13, 2016
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Temporally resolved direct delivery of second messengers into cells using nanostraws

Alexander M. Xu,ab  Sally A. Kim,c  Derek S. Wang,a  Amin Aalipoura  and  Nicholas A. Melosh*a 
Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
E-mail: nmelosh@stanford.edu

b Chemical and Chemical Engineering Division, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA

c Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

Abstract

Second messengers are biomolecules with the critical role of conveying information to intracellular targets. They are typically membrane-impermeable and only enter cells through tightly regulated transporters. Current methods for manipulating second messengers in cells require preparation of modified cell lines or significant disruptions in cell function, especially at the cell membrane. Here we demonstrate that 100 nm diameter ‘nanostraws’ penetrate the cell membrane to directly modulate second messenger concentrations within cells. Nanostraws are hollow vertical nanowires that provide a fluidic conduit into cells to allow time-resolved delivery of the signaling ion Ca2+ without chemical permeabilization or genetic modification, minimizing cell perturbation. By integrating the nanostraw platform into a microfluidic device, we demonstrate coordinated delivery of Ca2+ ions into hundreds of cells at the time scale of several seconds with the ability to deliver complex signal patterns, such as oscillations over time. The diffusive nature of nanostraw delivery gives the platform unique versatility, opening the possibility for time-resolved delivery of any freely diffusing molecules.

Graphical abstract: Temporally resolved direct delivery of second messengers into cells using nanostraws

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Publication details

The article was received on 07 Apr 2016, accepted on 01 Jun 2016 and first published on 02 Jun 2016


Article type: Technical Innovation
DOI: 10.1039/C6LC00463F
Citation: Lab Chip, 2016,16, 2434-2439
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    Temporally resolved direct delivery of second messengers into cells using nanostraws

    A. M. Xu, S. A. Kim, D. S. Wang, A. Aalipour and N. A. Melosh, Lab Chip, 2016, 16, 2434
    DOI: 10.1039/C6LC00463F

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