Recent electroporation-based systems for intracellular molecule delivery

Abstract

Intracellular delivery of functional molecules, such as DNA probes and plasmids, is an important method for investigating cellular mechanisms and changing cell fates in biomedicine. Among various delivery methods, recent years have seen the emergence of electroporation-based techniques that provide versatile platforms for molecule delivery, with high efficiency and controlled dosage. In this Review, we describe recent electroporation-based systems for intracellular molecule delivery. The principles of electroporation for cell membrane perforation and cargo delivery are briefly summarized. Focusing on various scenarios for the application of electroporation, we review electroporation devices that variously employ structures based on nanochannels, nanostraws, and flow-through microfluidic channels for in vitro intracellular molecule delivery. We also consider in vivo targeted therapies based on delivery of active molecules by electroporation according to the lesion locations. Finally, we discuss the current challenges facing electroporation-based techniques, as well as opportunities for their future development, which may lead to innovations in intracellular molecule delivery both for cellular analysis in the laboratory and treatment in the clinic.