MEMS-based sonoporation devices for intratumoral gene therapy

This paper presents a miniature device for intratumoral delivery of oligonucleotides (ASO). A PZT plate (1 cm/sup 2/ /spl times/ 0.75mm) is used to transfect cells using cavitation-induced sonoporation. Both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human prostate cancer cells (PC3) are investigated in vitro. Preliminary results show that after cavitation-induced sonoporation, the transfection rate for HUVEC increases by 10% compared to controls (p<0.01). For PC3, the transfection rate increases by 7% compared to controls (p<0.01).