Flexible wearable biochemical chips are widely applied to biological signals sensing of skin or organs, transdermal drug delivery, and gene transfection (Fig. 1). Nano chips, in particular, show more advantages in transfection efficiency, safety and dose controllability.
Fig. 1 Wearable single cell sensor and gene transfection chip
In the famous review journal Trends in Biotechology, an article was published recently reviewing the status quo of relevant researches on wearable biological chips for single cell sensing and gene transfection, and discussing the prospect of this topic in future studies. Professor Chang Lingqian of Beihang University is the first author; Professor Fan Yubo of Beihang University, Professor Yu Cunjiang of Huston University, and Professor Yang Ruiguo of University of Nebraska are corresponding authors.
The first part of the article summarizes the wearable devices for single cell sensing. Theoretically, whether a sensor can detect a single cell depends on its materials and the size of sensitive area. Sensors that can fulfill the job are reviewed in the paper in terms of their principle, device performance and functionality, the cell types that can be sensed, signal types, and so on (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Wearable sensors applicable to single cell sensing（a）signals detected from skin cells;（b）rGO/FeTCPs FET sensor applied to NO detection of single cell;（c）ECG electrode based on CNT/PDMS;（d）micro-fluidic chip for single cell sensing
In the second part, the paper focuses on the chip system for transdermal drug delivery and gene transfection. What differs the micro-nano chips from other transdemal systems is that it can deliver not only small molecules easy to be absorbed by dermis and epidermis cells, but also in vivo macro molecules. It is compared in the paper the advantages and disadvantages of two wearable gene transfection systems based on physical methods (Fig. 3), as well as their application ranges respectively.
Fig.3 In vivo gene transfection chips of single-cell accuracy
Finally, five questions are raised in prospect, which include: (1) how to design the sensitive membrane to realize single-cell accuracy; (2) how to ensure the effective touching of skin and the sensitive membrane when wearing; (3) how to miniaturize the delivery system to achieve single cell gene transfection；(4) how to achieve healing delivery and transfection in deep skin; (5) how to integrate the chip systemsto achieve multiple functions.
The research group of Professor Chang Lingqian has long devoted to research on single-cell gene transfection, micro-manipulation of cells, gene detection and treatment. 50 related articles have been published in internationally renowned journals indexed by SCI in the past five years.
Reported by Guo Meng
Reviewed by Han Huiyu
Edited by Jia Aiping
Translated by Li Siying
