Verfahren und Vorrichtungen zur Bearbeitung einzelner biologischer Zellen

Es wird ein Verfahren zur Bearbeitung einer biologischen Zelle (1), die ein von einer Zellmembran (2) umhuelltes Zytoskelett (3) aufweist, beschrieben mit den Schritten gegenseitige Ausrichtung der biologischen Zelle (1) und eines Werkzeugs (10), so dass das Werkzeug (10) die biologische Zelle (1) beruehrt, Bewegung des Werkzeugs (10) und der biologischen Zelle (1) relativ zueinander, und Bildung einer Unterbrechung im molekularen Verbund der Zellmembran (2) der biologischen Zelle (1), wobei waehrend der Bewegung des Werkzeugs (10) das Zytoskelett (3) der biologischen Zelle (1) einen Gleichgewichtszustand aufweist. Es wird auch ein Zellmanipulator zur Durchfuehrung des Verfahrens beschrieben.

DE1004053596 A UPAB: 20060607 NOVELTY - Manipulating biological cells, comprising keeping the cyto-skeleton of the cell in a state of equilibrium while directing a moving tool to form an opening in the cell membrane, is new. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Manipulating biological cells (1, 1A) with a cyto-skeleton (3) surrounded by a cell membrane (2) by aligning the cell and a tool (10, 10A) so that the tool is in contact with the cell, moving the tool and the cell in relation to one another and forming an opening in the composite molecular structure of the cell membrane (2), is new. In this method, the cyto-skeleton (3) of the cell (1, 1A) is in a state of equilibrium while the tool (10, 10A) is in motion. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a cell manipulator (100), especially for handling biological cells (1, 1A), comprising a substrate (20) for holding a cell, a tool (10, 10A) for manipulating the cell and a drive device (30, 30A) for moving the tool relative to the substrate, in which the tool has a working surface (11) which produces local selective deformation of the cell membrane (2). USE - For the fusion of biological cells and/or the diagnosis or characterisation of individual cells (claimed). The latter involves, e.g. the extraction of nuclear material or components of cytoplasm for analysis of the genetic material or to study interactions with pharmaceuticals etc. ADVANTAGE - A gentle manipulation technique enabling the handling of single biological cells or groups of cells with great reliability, precision and efficiency, without the disadvantages associated with prior-art techniques (multiple fusion, non-viability of cells after penetration, loss of rare/valuable cells etc.)