The application of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for laser-induced cell transfection has been studied intensively during the past decade as efficient and gentle alternative to well-established molecule delivery methods like lipid-based transfection or electroporation. The method is based on temporal increase of membrane permeability induced by laser irradiation of GNPs attached to cell membranes. Although this approach is attractive due to high throughput and easy usability, it is not free from serious drawbacks related to random adsorption of GNPs during preincubation of cells with GNPs. This stage can affect the optoporation results because of potential nanoparticle toxicity, thus leading to decreased delivery efficiency and to low reproducibility of independent optoporation runs. Herein, we suggest a novel GNP-mediated laser transfection technique based on immobilized gold nanostars (GNSs) that are adsorbed on microplate wells and act as a plasmonic surface. The HeLa cells are grown directly on the monolayer of immobilized GNSs followed by CW NIR laser irradiation. We used the propidium iodide (PI) as a model transfecting agent to monitor simultaneously the delivery of PI into HeLa cells and their viability. These proof-of-the-concept experiments demonstrated enhanced penetration of PI into irradiated cells as compared to untreated ones.

Date Published: 24 March 2017
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 10336, Saratov Fall Meeting 2016: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine XVIII, 103360L (24 March 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2269948

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10336:
Saratov Fall Meeting 2016: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine XVIII
Valery V. Tuchin; Elina A. Genina; Dmitry E. Postnov; Vladimir L. Derbov, Editor(s)