Faculty Develop Electrosonic Ejector Microarray (EEM)

The ability to manipulate large cell populations while causing targeted bioeffects is critical to drug design and delivery, and also in many cell biology and genetic modification protocols; yet, in spite of decades of research focused on gene delivery methods, many cell types refuse gene transfer by existing techniques. We developed a novel cell processing technology – the Electrosonic Ejector Microarray (EEM) – that addresses these challenges and establishes a pathway for drug and gene delivery. The EEM bridges the gap between conventional bulk transfection techniques and other micro/nanotechnologies, thus promoting the development of novel, multifunctional and high-throughput genomic assays for medical diagnostics and therapeutics.

The Electrosonic Ejector Microarray is a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-enabled device for on-demand drug/gene delivery into biological cells via combination of ultrasonic (mechanical) and electrical poration of the cell membrane. The critical advantage of this technology is the uniformity of treatment experienced by each individual cell, allowing for unmatched delivery/transfection control and efficacy. At the same time, the high ultrasonic frequency of operation and the parallel (array) format enable fast processing of large cell populations at rates between 1 and 100 million cells per second. Because of this high throughput capability, the device can accommodate a wide range of sample sizes, from volumes as small as that of a single array element (~100 nL) to arbitrarily large sample volumes when operated in continuous-flow mode. A low manufacturing cost is also attractive and provides the pathway to a fully disposable device, which is an essential advantage in clinical applications where cross-contamination is a critical concern. Further, the EEM technology is ideally suited for integration with both continuous (on-line) and discrete (off-line) cell separation/sorting techniques.

EEM Development Team includes Professor Andrei G. Fedorov, Professor F. Levent Degertekin, and Dr. J. Mark Meacham, all from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. Our goal is to bring the Electrosonic Ejector Microarray technology to the market, for use in both research and clinical settings. We have already established a partnership with IP2Biz LLC, a leading IP development and commercialization company, to support transition of the EEM from our laboratory to the commercial sector.