Gene transfer into mammalian cells by use of a nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress wave

Plasmid DNA has been successfully delivered to mammalian cells by applying a nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress wave (LISW). Cells exposed to a LISW were selectively transfected with plasmids coding for green fluorescent protein. It was also shown that transient, mild cellular heating (-43degreesC) was effective in improving the transfection efficiency. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.