Impalefection

 Impalefection is a method of gene delivery using nanomaterials, such as carbon nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires Ref.1. Needle-like nanostructures are synthesized perpendicular to the surface of a substrate. Plasmid DNA containing the gene, intended for intracellular delivery, is attached to the nanostructure surface. A chip with arrays of these needles is then pressed against cells or tissue. Cells that are impaled by nanostructures can express the delivered gene(s).

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Similar to transfection, the term is derived from two words - impalement and infection.

References

1. Tracking gene expression after DNA delivery using spatially indexed nanofiber arrays McKnight, T.E., A.V. Melechko, D.K. Hensley, D.G.J. Mann, G.D. Griffin, and M.L. Simpson, . Nano Letters, 2004. 4(7): p. 1213-1219

See also

• Nanomedicine