Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlled ejection of desired material onto surfaces including in single cells using nanopipettes, as well as ejection onto and into cells. Some embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller for depositing a user defined pattern on an arbitrary substrate for the purpose of controlled cell adhesion and growth. Alternate embodiments are directed to a method and system comprising nanopipettes combined with an xyz controller and electronic control of a voltage differential in a bore of the nanopipette electroosmotically injecting material into a cell in a high-throughput manner and with minimal damage to the cell. Yet other embodiments are directed to method and system comprising functionalized nanopipettes combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying molecular interactions and detection of biomolecules inside a single living cell.

Gene editing can be performed by introducing gene-editing components into a cell by mechanical cell disruption. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described. The methods and systems of the invention solve the problem of intracellular delivery of gene editing components and gene editing complexes to target cells. The results described herein indicate that delivery of gene editing components, e.g., protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), by mechanical disruption of cell membranes leads to successful gene editing. Because intracellular delivery of gene editing materials is a current challenge, the methods provide a robust mechanism to engineer target cells without the use of potentially harmful viral vectors or electric fields.

A somatic cell production system comprising a preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 through which a preintroduction cell-containing solution passes, a factor introducing device 30 that is connected to the preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 and introduces a somatic cell inducing factor into preintroduction cells to prepare inducing factor-introduced cells, and a cell preparation device 40 in which the inducing factor-introduced cells are cultured to prepare somatic cells.

A method of controlling a needle actuator to interact with a cell is provided, the method comprising: providing an actuator comprising a tower, a stage and a needle, wherein the needle is mounted on the stage; applying an electrostatic potential between the tower and the stage to retract the needle; moving the actuator towards the cell; reducing the potential so as to allow the stage and needle to move towards the cell; applying calibration data to detect when the needle has pierced the cell; and reducing the potential further once it has been detected that the needle has pierced the cell. The cell can be a biological cell. The needle can be a micro-needle and the stage can be a micro-stage.

A system for introducing a vector into includes a filter module defining an intra-capillary space and an extra-capillary space separated from the intra-capillary space by a porous membrane. The system also includes a pair of intra-capillary ports fluidly coupled to opposite ends of the intra-capillary space and each receiving a transduction media, cells, and a vector. The system also includes a pair of extra-capillary ports coupled to opposite ends of the extra-capillary space and in fluid-communication with a source of extra-capillary media and a waste container.

A neutron ray irradiation target apparatus 100 of the present invention is used to irradiate irradiation targets (seeds, etc.) with a neutron ray generated by a neutron ray irradiation apparatus. The neutron ray irradiation target apparatus 100 has a holding means 70 for holding the irradiation targets. The holding means 70 holds at least one closed container 30 which can accommodate the irradiation targets 20 stacked randomly and three-dimensionally. In the case where the irradiation targets are stacked three-dimensionally and accommodated in the closed container, the irradiation targets overlapping each other are irradiated with the neutron ray in a chain reaction fashion. The neutron ray irradiation target apparatus 100 can be used in a method for irradiating a large amount of irradiation targets (seeds of crops, etc.) with a neutron ray, while reducing a required time, thereby efficiently inducing mutations in the irradiation targets.

A transfection device suitable for delivery of various macrostructures (e.g., mitochondria, bacteria, liposomes) is described and uses mechanical force to thereby induce active endocytosis in a target cell. Contemplated devices are able to achieve high throughput of transfected cells that remain viable and are capable of producing colonies.

A cell culture device (200) includes a cell culture vessel (22) for culturing cells, a factor container (81) for storing a factor, a reagent container (82) for storing a reagent for introducing the factor into the cells, and a flow path for transporting the factor and the reagent from the factor container (81) and the reagent container (82) to the cell culture vessel (22).

The present invention relates to an operating liquid for Piezo-mediated microinjection. In particular, the present invention relates to use of purified perfluoron-octane or a composition comprising purified perfluoro-n-octane as operating liquid for Piezo-mediated intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Piezo-ICSI). The present invention further relates to methods of fertilising an oocyte in vitro by Piezo-ICSI using purified perfluoro-n-octane or a composition comprising purified perfluoro-noctane as operating liquid and methods of assisted reproduction using methods of the invention.

A manual injector for cell manipulation comprising a displacement device for displacing a fluid, an injection tube connected to the displacement device, and a capillary holder connected to the injection tube for holding a microcapillary tube or a microcapillary tube connected to the injection tube, wherein the displacement device has the following: a disk-shaped main body that, on a first end face, has an hollow cylinder space which is concentric with its middle axis, a disk-shaped adjusting wheel, a helical gear, a hollow cylindrical plunger, a rotational decoupling that connects the adjusting wheel to the plunger, and a connection connected to the cylinder space to which the injection tube is connected.