Flow electroporation chamber and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the encapsulation of substances and drugs into cells and platelets. The present invention is also related to the incorporation of thrombus dissolving drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase into platelets using the apparatus described herein. The treated platelets can then be used to treat patients suffering from a thrombus blocking a blood vessel. The present invention is also related to a preparation of red blood cells that has a stable right shift of the oxygen dissociation curve.

1 - 13 . Canceled  
     
     
         14 . A method of incorporating a biologically-active substance into cells in a continuous flow system, comprising: 
 a. introducing the cells into the continuous flow system;    b. isolating the cells from at least some matter with which the cells are associated;    c. mixing the cells with a biologically-active substance to provide a cell suspension;    d. moving the cell suspension within the continuous flow system at a flow rate established by a computer-controllable pump to correspond to a sample processing rate;    e. electroporating the cell suspension, thereby causing the biologically-active substance to be encapsulated in the cells; and    f. incubating the cells to allow the cells to reseal to provide modified cells.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 g. washing the modified cells to remove unencapsulated biologically-active substance therefrom.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , the sample processing rate corresponding to a processing rate of a centrifuge.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , the sample processing rate corresponding to an interval between pulses of electrical energy to the electrodes.  
     
     
         18 . A method of incorporating a biologically-active substance into cells in a continuous flow system, comprising: 
 a. introducing the cells into the continuous flow system;    b. isolating the cells from at least some matter with which the cells are associated;    c. mixing the cells with a biologically-active substance to provide a cell suspension;    d. electroporating the cell suspension, thereby causing the biologically-active substance to be encapsulated in the cells;    e. controlling individual thermoelectric cooling elements to cool portions of the continuous flow system; and    f. incubating the cells to allow the cells to reseal to provide modified cells.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 g. washing the modified cells to remove unencapsulated biologically-active substance therefrom.    
     
     
         20 . A method for rendering an electroporation apparatus non-operational, the method comprising automatically breaking an electrode prior to re-use.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , the method comprising rotating a spindle to stretch an electrode wrapped around the spindle so as to break the electrode.