Guanren Tao
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Emily McCorkle
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Chemical Engineering / Engineering
Program:
Authors: Guanren Tao, Emily McCorkle
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 77
Abstract
Electroporation is an efficient transfection method used to deliver nucleic acids, proteins, and other molecules into cultured cells, widely applied in biomedical research and clinical applications. However, in research aimed at developing new electroporation-based tools that are both highly efficient in transfection and maintain high cell viability, accurately measuring the resistance of electroporation devices made from Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and understanding the impact of different device constructions on resistance becomes a technical challenge. In this study, we will use a potentiostat’s Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, along with a circuit composed of a waveform generator and an oscilloscope, to measure different electroporation devices varying in diameter, cross-section, and with or without membranes. The resistance values are determined by analyzing the Nyquist plots generated by the potentiostat and calculating from the voltage measured across a 100 ohm resistor and the total circuit voltage using the oscilloscope. Conclusions are drawn by comparing the predicted resistance values with those measured by both methods and by comparing the resistance differences between devices with different constructions. The realization of this study will aid in adjusting and optimizing electroporation parameters for more precise and efficient experiments and provide a theoretical basis for designing electroporation devices with high transfection efficiency and less cellular damage.
