Method and apparatus for close-field electroporation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129246-A1
Application number	US-201414895207-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 23, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods for transfecting one or more cells within a target region with an agent by electroporation. The method comprises exposing one or more cells to the agent and to a close electric field created between an anode or anode array and a cathode or cathode array in the target region for sufficient time to allow at least some of the agent to enter said one or more cells.

First claim

1 . A method of transfecting one or more cells within a target region with an agent by electroporation, said method comprising exposing said one or more cells to said agent and to a close electric field created between an anode or anode array and a cathode or cathode array in said target region for sufficient time to allow at least some of said agent to enter said one or more cells.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said anode or anode array and said cathode or cathode array are separated by between about 10 μm and about 5 mm.

3 - 5 . (canceled)

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage applied between said anode or anode array and said cathode or cathode array is about 1V to about 40V.

7 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total electric charge delivered during said electroporation is less than 0.5 Coulombs, optionally less than 0.1 Coulombs, more optionally less than 0.05 Coulombs.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the electric charge is delivered through less than 100 electric pulses, optionally through 10 or fewer pulses, 5 or fewer pulses, 4 pulses, 3 pulses, 2 pulses or 1 pulse.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each pulse is from about 100 μs to about 500 ms in duration.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said anode or anode array and said cathode or cathode array are provided on a single probe to be introduced into said region.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said anode or anode array and said cathode or cathode array are provided on a cochlear implant electrode array.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said close electric field is created between an anode array and a cathode array.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of said arrays independently comprises from 2 to 8 electrodes.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of said arrays comprises 4 electrodes.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 1 , for enabling said one or more cells within said target region to produce, enhance or suppress an activity within said region.

20 . The method of claim 1 , for at least partially restoring physiological function within said target region, one or more regions annexing said target region, or both within said target region and one or more regions annexing said target region.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a nucleic acid molecule.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further characterised by any one of:
the nucleic acid molecule encodes a neurotrophic factor, the nucleic acid molecule encodes a transcription factor which modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor, or the nucleic acid molecule decreases the expression of a transcription factor, wherein the transcription factor modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor.

23 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the neurotrophic factor is selected from any one of Neurotrophin-3, Neurotrophin-3 precursor molecule, Neurotrophin 4/5, Nerve growth factor, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor and Activity dependent neurotrophic factor.

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a protein.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said protein comprises a neurotrophic factor.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a fluorescent or photoactivatable moiety.

29 . An electroporation electrode assembly comprising an anode or anode array and a cathode or cathode array for creating a close electric field in a target region, for transfecting one or more cells in a target region by a method according to claim 1 .

30 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Newsouth Innovations Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Housley Gary David
• Klugmann Matthias
• Pinyon Jeremy

Classifications

• A61K38/185

  Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins, e.g. NT-3 · CPC title

• A61N1/327

  for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation · CPC title

• A61N1/30 Primary

  Apparatus for iontophoresis, {i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body}, or cataphoresis · CPC title

• A61N1/0541

  Cochlear electrodes · CPC title