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Abstract

A photon-mediated technique for introducing biological materials into cells and/or cellular components. The technique may be used to introduce nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, proteins or other biological materials into mammalian cells (as well as into other animal and plant cells), which materials may then flow into the nuclei of the cells. The technique uses picosecond or femtosecond light pulses propagating in the UV, visible and near infrared wavelength regions with powers on the order of 1.times.10.sup.10 W/cm.sup.2. In practice, the desired biological materials are coated on the end of the inner core of a single mode fiber or the ring core of a fiber in a fiber array. Each fiber is sized to correspond to one cell, with the core size ranging from 2.mu. to 10.mu., and the cladding ranging from 10.mu. to 30.mu.. The laser pulse travels through a fiber core which is coated with the materials and ablates a portion of a targeted cell or cellular component membrane. In addition, as the laser pulse exits the fiber, it imparts energy and momentum to the materials applied to the end of the fiber. Consequently, after ablation of a portion of the membrane, some of the biological materials are caused to enter therethrough.

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First Claim