Modeling, Fabrication, and Testing of a Nanoinjection Lance Array for Simultaneous Multi-Cell Injections

A nanoinjection lance array has been developed to inject foreign genetic material into thousands of cells at once using electrophoresis to attract and repel particles to and from the lances. A unique combination of isotropic and anisotropic etch processes are used to fabricate the four million 1 μm by 8 μm solid lances on a 2 cm by 2 cm chip. Initial studies show high cell viability when the lance array is used to pierce through a culture of HeLa cancer cells, often used for genetic research. A mathematical computer model simulating motion of attracted or repelled particles informs the design of the nanoinjection lance array system. The nanoinjection lance array provides an efficient, convenient, and quick way to simultaneously inject thousands of cells for a wide range of genetic research applications.