A microfluidic electroporation device for cell lysis

Abstract

We demonstrate a micro-electroporation device for cell lysis prior to subcellular analysis. Simple circuit models show that electrical lysis method is advantageous because it is selective towards plasma membrane while leaving organelle membrane undamaged. In addition, miniaturization of this concept leads to negligible heat generation and bubble formation. The designed microdevices were fabricated using a combination of photolithography, metal-film deposition, and electroplating. We demonstrate the electro-lysis of human carcinoma cells in these devices to release the subcellular materials.