Mechanoporation-Based Drug Delivery

Cell-based therapy, genome editing and regenerative medicine are breakthrough technologies that require rapid and safe delivery of exogenous materials into huge populations of suspended cells. Different techniques have been devised to deliver the cargo of genetic modifying molecules to target cells that include, biochemical and physical techniques. This chapter presents a detailed discussion of various mechanoporation-based techniques for intracellular cargo delivery. In mechanoporation, the cell is deformed by mechanical forces, which creates momentary permeability. This temporary permeability facilitates diffusion or convection of macromolecules from the external fluid into the cell. With the use of these methods, a wide variety of molecules or compounds that can be dispersed in a solution can be delivered quickly and directly. Further, the chapter provides the historical background, operating principles, benefits, and drawbacks of mechanoporation processes. The chapter also discusses the advancement of new microfluidic and nanotechnological techniques along with their fabrication procedures that have enabled unprecedented levels of control over the membrane disruption process. Particular focus is placed on their applications, implementation challenges, and a discussion of potential future applications, if any. Finally, a detailed comparison of various mechanoporation-based drug delivery systems is presented. In future research on mechanoporation, there can be a focus on harnessing the distinct advantages of different intracellular delivery techniques to create multifunctional platforms capable of delivering biomolecules independently or concurrently, even under less severe operating conditions.