Plasmon-enhanced ultrafast laser cell transfection

We present a method for transfecting biological cells using ultrafast plasmons excited on large areas of bio-compatible, nano-pyramid substrates. This technique does not employ any potentially toxic chemical transfection reagents or metallic nanoparticles. Leveraging the field enhancement supported by these pyramidal plasmonic nanostructures, we generate localized, transient pores in the membranes of large numbers of cells at a rate of approximately 10^4 per second. Diffusion through these pores enables the delivery of functional short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules into the cells. We demonstrate both cellular uptake of biomolecules and cell transfection after plasmon-enhanced laser cell perforation.