Granted Patent B2

US 12,359,220 · App. 16/962,509 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Paul S. Weiss (Los Angeles, CA); Hsian-Rong Tseng (Los Angeles, CA); Xiaobin Xu (Los Angeles, CA); Natcha Wattanatorn (Los Angeles, CA); Qing Yang (Los Angeles, CA); Steven J. Jonas (Hawthorne, CA)

Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

C12N15/87G01N33/54326C12N2310/141

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A method of transporting biomolecular cargo intracellularly into a plurality of cells comprising:

providing a microfluidic channel;

providing a plurality of magnetic nanostructures carrying the biomolecular cargo thereon within the microfluidic channel, wherein the plurality of magnetic nanostructures have at least one pointed end or tip;

flowing a fluid containing the plurality of magnetic nanostructures within the microfluidic channel;

applying an external magnetic field to maintain the plurality of magnetic nanostructures in a substantially stationary state along a width of the microfluidic channel and orients the plurality of magnetic nanostructures to place the at least one pointed end or tip of the plurality of magnetic nanostructures opposite to a direction of flow within the microfluidic channel; and

flowing the plurality of cells within the microfluidic channel to physically contact the at least one pointed end or tip of the plurality of magnetic nanostructures.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetic nanostructures comprises a first type of magnetic nanostructure carrying a first biomolecular cargo thereon and a second type of magnetic nanostructure carrying a second biomolecular cargo thereon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetic nanostructures are biodegradable by the plurality of cells.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetic nanostructures comprise a silicon base, followed by a nickel layer and a gold layer, followed by a layer of polyethyleneimine (PEI).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomolecular cargo comprises one or more molecules.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomolecular cargo comprises DNA-containing plasmids.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomolecular cargo comprises targeted nucleases for gene editing and their associated guide nucleic acid sequences.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetic nanostructures comprise silicon coated with a magnetically susceptible metal followed by a noble metal or metal oxide layer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the biomolecular cargo is electrostatically and/or covalently attached or tethered to a deposited surface layer formed over the noble metal or metal oxide layer.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (73)