ElectroPen: An ultra-low–cost, electricity-free, portable electroporator
Open Access
- 10 January 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLoS Biology
- Vol. 18 (1), e3000589
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000589
Abstract
Electroporation is a basic yet powerful method for delivering small molecules (RNA, DNA, drugs) across cell membranes by application of an electrical field. It is used for many diverse applications, from genetically engineering cells to drug- and DNA-based vaccine delivery. Despite this broad utility, the high cost of electroporators can keep this approach out of reach for many budget-conscious laboratories. To address this need, we develop a simple, inexpensive, and handheld electroporator inspired by and derived from a common household piezoelectric stove lighter. The proposed "ElectroPen" device can cost as little as 23 cents (US dollars) to manufacture, is portable (weighs 13 g and requires no electricity), can be easily fabricated using 3D printing, and delivers repeatable exponentially decaying pulses of about 2,000 V in 5 ms. We provide a proof-of-concept demonstration by genetically transforming plasmids into Escherichia coli cells, showing transformation efficiency comparable to commercial devices, but at a fraction of the cost. We also demonstrate the potential for rapid dissemination of this approach, with multiple research groups across the globe validating the ease of construction and functionality of our device, supporting the potential for democratization of science through frugal tools. Thus, the simplicity, accessibility, and affordability of our device holds potential for making modern synthetic biology accessible in high school, community, and resource-poor laboratories.This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Open Labware: 3-D Printing Your Own Lab EquipmentPLoS Biology, 2015
- Foldscope: Origami-Based Paper MicroscopePLOS ONE, 2014
- A detailed description of an economical setup for electroporation of chick embryos in ovoBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2013
- Techniques of signal generation required for electropermeabilization: Survey of electropermeabilization devicesBioelectrochemistry, 2004
- Gene Transfer into Cultured Mammalian Embryos by ElectroporationMethods, 2001
- Electroporation: basic principles, practical considerations and applications in molecular biologyBioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 1997
- Electroporation of mammalian skin: a mechanism to enhance transdermal drug delivery.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1993
- A low cost microprocessor-controlled electrofusion and electroporation systemJournal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 1992
- High efficiency transformation of E.coli by high voltage electroporationNucleic Acids Research, 1988
- High-voltage electroporation of bacteria: genetic transformation of Campylobacter jejuni with plasmid DNA.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1988