Direct Nuclear Delivery of DNA by Photothermal Nanoblade

Abstract

We demonstrate direct nuclear delivery of DNA into live mammalian cells using the photothermal nanoblade. Pulsed laser-triggered cavitation bubbles on a titanium-coated micropipette tip punctured both cellular plasma and nuclear membranes, which was followed by pressure-controlled delivery of DNA into the nucleus. High-level and efficient plasmid expression in different cell types with maintained cell viability was achieved.