Patent ID: 11299698

Abstract:
The current subject matter includes methods, systems, articles, and techniques to deliver material to anucleate cells, such as red blood cells. Using a rapid deformation based microfluidic system, loading of red blood cells with macromolecules of different sizes has been shown. Although delivery to some mammalian cells, such as cancer cell lines and fibroblasts had been previously demonstrated using this technique, those designs were incompatible with RBCs that have dramatically different physical properties. Through the use of smaller constriction sizes, high speeds and different buffers successful delivery to red blood cells can be achieved. By enabling robust delivery to red blood cells in a simple, scalable manner, the current subject matter can be implemented in a diversity of applications that deliver material to study red blood cell diseases and/or use red blood cells as a therapeutic platform. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.