Synchronized Electromechanical Shock Wave-Induced Bacterial Transformation.

ABSTRACT: We report a simple device that generates synchronized mechanical and electrical pressure waves for carrying out bacterial transformation. The mechanical pressure waves are produced by igniting a confined nanoenergetic composite material that provides ultrahigh pressure. Further, this device has an arrangement through which a synchronized electric field (of a time-varying nature) is initiated at a delay of ?85 ?s at the full width half-maxima point of the pressure pulse. The pressure waves so generated are incident to a thin aluminum-polydimethylsiloxane membrane that partitions the ignition chamber from the column of the mixture containing bacterial cells (Escherichia coli BL21) and 4 kb transforming DNA. A combination of mechanical and electrical pressure pulse created through the above arrangement ensures that the transforming DNA transports across the cell membrane into the cell, leading to a transformation event. This unique device has been successfully operated for efficient gene (?4 kb) transfer into cells. The transformation efficacy of this device is found comparable to the other standard methods and protocols for carrying out the transformation.

SUBMITTER: Kant R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6648450 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature