Cavity acoustic transducer (CAT) for shear-induced cell transfection

1 . A high-throughput transfection method, comprising:

a. providing a microfluidic platform ( 110 ) comprising a main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), and one or more cavity acoustic transducers (CATs) ( 130 ), wherein the one or more CATs ( 130 ) are dead-end channels coupled to the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the microfluidic platform ( 110 ) is coupled to an external acoustic source ( 140 );

b. flowing a fluid ( 150 ) through the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the fluid ( 150 ) intersects the CATs ( 130 ) to form one or more interfaces ( 180 ); and

c. applying acoustic energy to the CATs ( 130 ) via the external acoustic source ( 140 ) to oscillate the interfaces ( 180 ), wherein oscillating the interfaces ( 180 ) produces a plurality of microstreaming vortices ( 190 ) that causes shear-induced mechanical deformation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising:

a. providing an array of electrodes ( 200 ), the electrodes interdigitated with the microfluidic platform ( 110 ); and

b. applying a voltage to the electrodes ( 200 ) so as to achieve electroporation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oscillation is controlled by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) voltage.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the CAT ( 130 ) induces pumping of the fluid ( 150 ), thereby eliminating a need for external pumping.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ( 150 ) comprises a cell ( 160 ) and an exogenous material ( 170 ).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a configuration of the CATs ( 130 ) is selected from a group comprising lateral to the main channel ( 120 ), above the main channel ( 120 ), below the main channel ( 120 ), and a combination thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interfaces ( 180 ) comprise a gas-liquid interface, a liquid-liquid interface, a lipid membrane, a polymer membrane, a nano-particle membrane, or a combination thereof.

8 . A system ( 100 ) for delivery of an exogenous material, the system comprising:

a. a microfluidic platform ( 110 ) comprising a main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), and one or more cavity acoustic transducers (CATs) ( 130 ), wherein the one or more CATs ( 130 ) are dead-end channels coupled to the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the microfluidic platform ( 110 ) is coupled to an external acoustic source ( 140 ); and

b. a fluid ( 150 ) disposed through the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the fluid ( 150 ) intersects the CATs ( 130 ) to form one or more interfaces ( 180 );

wherein the CATs ( 130 ) are configured to oscillate the interfaces ( 180 ) to produce a plurality of microstreaming vortices ( 190 ) that causes shear-induced mechanical deformation.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system ( 100 ) additionally comprises an array of electrodes ( 200 ), the electrodes interdigitated with the microfluidic platform ( 110 ), and wherein the electrodes ( 200 ) are configured to promote electroporation ( 160 ) when a voltage is applied to the electrodes ( 200 ).

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the oscillation is controlled by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) voltage.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the CAT ( 130 ) is configured to induce pumping of the fluid ( 150 ), thereby eliminating the need for external pumping.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the fluid ( 150 ) comprises a cell ( 160 ) and the exogenous material.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein a configuration of the CATs ( 130 ) is selected from a group comprising lateral to the main channel ( 120 ), above the main channel ( 120 ), below the main channel ( 120 ), and a combination thereof.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the interfaces ( 180 ) comprise a gas-liquid interface, a liquid-liquid interface, a lipid membrane, a polymer membrane, a nano-particle membrane, or a combination thereof.

15 . A high-throughput transfection method, comprising:

a. providing a microfluidic platform ( 110 ) comprising a main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), and one or more cavity acoustic transducers (CATs) ( 130 ), wherein the one or more CATs ( 130 ) are dead-end channels coupled to the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the microfluidic platform ( 110 ) is coupled to an external acoustic source ( 140 );

b. providing an array of electrodes ( 200 ), the electrodes interdigitated with the microfluidic platform ( 110 );

c. flowing a fluid ( 150 ) through the main microfluidic channel ( 120 ), wherein the fluid ( 150 ) intersects the CATs ( 130 ) to form one or more interfaces ( 180 );

d. applying acoustic energy to the CATs ( 130 ) via the external acoustic source ( 140 ) to oscillate the interfaces ( 180 ), wherein oscillating the interfaces ( 180 ) produces a plurality of microstreaming vortices ( 190 ) that causes shear-induced mechanical deformation; and

e. applying a voltage to the electrodes ( 200 ) so as to achieve electroporation, wherein the electrodes are capable of at least a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode achieves generation of pores and the second mode achieves widening of said pores generated in the first mode.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oscillation is controlled by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) voltage.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the CAT ( 130 ) induces pumping of the fluid ( 150 ), thereby eliminating the need for external pumping.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid ( 150 ) comprises a cell ( 160 ) and an exogenous material.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a configuration of the CATs ( 130 ) is selected from a group comprising lateral to the main channel ( 120 ), above the main channel ( 120 ), below the main channel ( 120 ), and a combination thereof.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the interfaces ( 180 ) comprise a gas-liquid interface, a liquid-liquid interface, a polymer membrane, a nano-particle membrane, or a combination thereof.