An object of the invention is to provide an electroporation method for treating vesicles with exogenous material for insertion of the exogenous material into the vesicles which includes the steps of: a. retaining a suspension of the vesicles and the exogenous material in a treatment volume in a chamber which includes electrodes, wherein the chamber has a geometric factor (cm.sup.−1) defined by the quotient of the electrode gap squared (cm.sup.2) divided by the chamber volume (cm.sup.3), wherein the geometric factor is less than or equal to 0.1 cm.sup.−1, wherein the suspension of the vesicles and the exogenous material is in a medium which is adjusted such that the medium has conductivity in a range spanning 50 microSiemens/cm to 500 microSiemens/cm, wherein the suspension is enclosed in the chamber during treatment, and b. treating the suspension enclosed in the chamber with one or more pulsed electric fields. With the method, the treatment volume of the suspension is scalable, and the time of treatment of the vesicles in the chamber is substantially uniform.

This disclosure features methods and compositions for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with an immunomodulator.

A miniature device configured to be maneuvered within a patient under manipulation by an external magnetic field and to selectively perform a predefined function is provided. The miniature device comprises a shell defining therewithin an internal cavity, and a magnetic arrangement disposed within the cavity. The miniature device is configured such that the magnetic arrangement, within a rotating magnetic field, effects one of performance of the function and propulsion of the miniature device within the patient, and, within a magnetic field gradient, effects the other of performance of the function and propulsion of the miniature device within the patient.

Transfer of genetic and other materials to cells is conducted in a hands-free, automated and continuous process that includes flowing the cells between electroporation electrodes to facilitate delivery of a payload into the cells, while acoustophoretically focusing the cells. Also described is a control method for the acoustophoretic focusing of cells that includes detecting locations of cells flowing through a channel, such as with an image analytics system, and modulating a drive signal to an acoustic transducer to change the locations of the cells flowing in the channel. Finally, an electroporation driver module is described that uses a digital to analog converter for generating an electroporation waveform and an amplifier for amplifying the electroporation waveform for application to electroporation electrodes.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods for the transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents for the treatment of addictive cravings e.g., nicotine compounds for the treatment of nicotine cravings from tobacco use. An embodiment of a method for such delivery comprises positioning at least one electrode assembly in electrical communication with a patient's skin. The assembly includes a solution comprising a therapeutic agent which passively diffuses into the skin. A dose of agent is delivered from the assembly into the skin during a first period using a first current having a characteristic e.g., polarity and magnitude, to repel the agent out of the assembly. During a second period, a second current having a characteristic to attract the agent is used to retain the agent in the assembly such that delivery of agent into skin is minimized. A dose of agent may be delivered on demand by an input from the patient.

The present application includes a method for introducing a hormone directly into an affected area within a tumor. The method includes penetrating the affected area of the tumor with a biopsy needle in order to obtain a biopsy specimen. The specimen is withdrawn along with the biopsy needle. A hormone implant is inserted into the void space left behind as the specimen was removed. The method may also include directly inserting the implant and a treating substance into the tumor without the removal of the biopsy specimen. The implant may have various shapes in order to maximize surface contact. The implant is also configured to have a time release function to regulate dosage delivery.

Disclosed herein are methods relating to manufacturing an embolizing agent precursor. Manufacture of the embolizing agent precursor may involve mixing a first component contained within a first container with a second component contained within a second container, the first component including a plurality of negatively charged gaseous components and a first stabilizer, the second component comprising a plurality of positively charged oil components, a second stabilizer, and a cationic surfactant. Further steps may include mixing the first component with the second component such that the first and second component are held together as a single agglomerated entity.

An intracellular delivery system and method are provided. The intracellular delivery system comprises a laser-activated surface and cells positioned at a distance from the laser-activated surface. A laser provided a laser pulse that is used to porate membranes of the cells to deliver or extract cargo from the cells into a liquid surrounding the cells. The method of intracellular delivery comprises positioning a laser-activated surface at a distance from cells and applying a laser pulse from the laser to the surface to porate membranes of the cells to deliver or extract cargo from the cells into a liquid surrounding the cells.

The invention concerns a biocompatible oily ferrofluid comprising iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles and an oil phase comprising at least one fatty acid ester, characterized in that said magnetic nanoparticles are surface functionalized by molecules of one or more phospholipids, and in particular a biocompatible oily ferrofluid comprising iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles and an oil phase comprising at least one fatty acid ester, said iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles forming a colloidal dispersion in said oil phase from a temperature belonging to the range from 20 to 80° C., characterized in that said magnetic nanoparticles are surface functionalized by molecules of one or more phospholipids which do not completely cover the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles, which in particular ensure a coverage rate of the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles such that the fatty acid ester(s) present in the oil phase have access to the surface of the iron-oxide based magnetic nanoparticles. The invention also concerns the process for preparing such a biocompatible oily ferrofluid and its use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging or in the context of a cancer treatment by hyperthermia. Finally, the invention concerns a nanoemulsion comprising such a biocompatible oily ferrofluid.

Provided is a therapeutic agent targeting and fixation medical device that precisely targets a therapeutic agent including a magnetic substance by using an optimized array of magnets in consideration of an affected area of a patient.