Tiny fluid-chip that rapidly squeezes cells to load large molecules inside
Microfluidics to explore ultrafast cell deformations to deliver large cargo via convective transport
This project uses a microfluidic chip that briefly squeezes cells to push large materials like DNA or labels into therapeutic and lab-grown cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172466 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building and testing a tiny microfluidic device that compresses cells in less than a millisecond to trigger a quick change in cell volume, which drives fluid and cargo into the cell. That rapid, physical squeezing creates a convective flow across the cell membrane that can carry large molecules such as plasmid DNA, probes, or gene-editing tools into cells. The team will optimize device geometry and flow conditions and measure how well different cell types (including blood precursor or therapeutic cells) take up cargo and recover after treatment. Experiments will check delivery efficiency, cell health, and how the method could be scaled for lab or clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people donating blood or tissue for cell engineering work—such as donors for experimental cell therapies or participants in related clinical lab studies.
Not a fit: People looking for an immediate medical treatment benefit today or those not involved in donation or cell-therapy studies are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier and faster to load large genetic payloads into therapeutic cells, improving the manufacture and reach of cell-based treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related microfluidic 'cell squeezing' approaches have shown promise for delivering small cargos, but using ultrafast compressions to carry large DNA payloads is relatively new and remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sulchek, Todd — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Sulchek, Todd
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.