Seed Funding: Fabrication of an Innovative Nanopore Microneedle for Controlled Gene Transfection within 3D Cell Volumes

The objective of this proposal is to develop and characterize a novel Nanopore Microneedle Array that will enable cell transformation. Transformation will be enacted on 3D tissue volumes through cell electroporation and electrophoretic introduction of genetic material, causing a change in cell phenotype. In the proposal, the initial fabrication, testing, and proof-of-concept is described. Fabrication will be conducted at the Microelectronics Research Center on the J. J. Pickle Research Campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Proposed work includes characterization of physical robustness,, electromagnetic behavior, and electrophoretic transport capabilities of the manufactured prototype. Once benchtop characterization is complete, proof-of-concept experiments in rodents will be conducted to assess cell transformation capabilities.