Well Plate–Based Localized Electroporation Workflow for Rapid Optimization of Intracellular Delivery

Abstract

Efficient and nontoxic delivery of foreign cargo into cells is a critical step in many biological studies and cell engineering workflows with applications in areas such as biomanufacturing and cell-based therapeutics. However, effective molecular delivery into cells involves optimizing several experimental parameters. In the case of electroporation-based intracellular delivery, there is a need to optimize parameters like pulse voltage, duration, buffer type, and cargo concentration for each unique application. Here, we present the protocol for fabricating and utilizing a high-throughput multi-well localized electroporation device (LEPD) assisted by deep learning–based image analysis to enable rapid optimization of experimental parameters for efficient and nontoxic molecular delivery into cells. The LEPD and the optimization workflow presented herein are relevant to both adherent and suspended cell types and different molecular cargo (DNA, RNA, and proteins). The workflow enables multiplexed combinatorial experiments and can be adapted to cell engineering applications requiring in vitro delivery.