Abstract: The invention relates to a method for promoting the adhesion of cells to a substrate to which these cells usually have no or only low affinity, wherein the adhesion of the cells to the substrate is promoted by supplying the cells with the non-muscle myosin II inhibitor Blebbistatin so as to enable the cells to attach to surfaces to which they otherwise would not have sufficient affinity. Surprisingly, supplying the cells with the inhibitor enhances the capability of these cells to attach to surfaces to which they usually have no or only low affinity, for example, PTFE (Teflon®). The invention further concerns uses of the non-muscle myosin II inhibitor Blebbistatin and devices having at least one surface which is coated with cells that have no or only low affinity to said surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode assembly 20, in particular for applying at least one electric field to adherent cells, comprising at least two electrodes 21, each having at least one surface 32 which is arranged opposite the corresponding surface 32 of the other electrode 21, wherein an electrically insulating material 26 is arranged at least partially between the surfaces 32 of the electrodes 21. The solution according to the invention allows the electric field to be concentrated in the region of the cells to be treated such that a voltage pulse, or the current produced thereby, flows through the cells without the majority flowing away over the cells unused in the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for subjecting adherent cells to at least one electric field, in which the electric field is generated by applying a voltage to at least two active electrodes 63, wherein at least three electrodes 63, 64 are provided, and wherein at least two electrodes 63, 64 are active electrodes 63 when the voltage is applied in order to generate a first electric field, and in which at least one second electric field is generated, wherein at least one of the two previously active electrodes 63 is a potential-free electrode 64 when the voltage is applied.

Abstract: A device 1 with at least one electrode 8 for generating an electrical field in a chamber 7 is disclosed. The device 1 comprises at least one input channel 6 for introducing a fluid into the chamber 7, and at least one output channel 11 for discharging the fluid from the chamber 7. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing the flow of a fluid through a chamber 7 in which an electrical field is generated and which has at least one input channel 6 for introducing the fluid into the chamber and at least one output channel 11 for discharging the fluid from the chamber 8. To avoid undesirable backflow of the fluid due to gas formation, the average inside diameter of the input channel 6 of device 1 is smaller than the average inside diameter of the output channel 11.

Abstract: A method for introducing biologically active molecules into animal or human cells using an electric current includes suspending the cells and dissolving the biologically active molecules in a buffer solution including HEPES and at least 10 mmol×1?1 magnesium ions (Mg2+), the buffer solution having a buffer capacity of at least 20 mmol×1?1 ×pH?1 at a change in the pH from pH 7 to pH 8 and at a temperature of 25° C., and an ionic strength of at least 200 mmol×1?1. An electric voltage is applied to the suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel circuit arrangement for electrotransfection or electrofusion, which enables the transportation of DNA and/or other biologically active molecules to the nucleus of higher eukaryotic cells or the fusion of cells, independent of cell division and with reduced cell mortality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1) with at least three reaction spaces (2) which in each case have at least one electrode pair for applying an electric voltage for generating an electric field within the reaction space (2) and which are arranged geometrically in at least one row and/or electrically connected in at least one row, wherein at least one electrode (3, 4) of a reaction space (2) is a common electrode (3, 4) with at least one other reaction space (2). According to the invention n+x electrodes (3, 4, 5) are provided, wherein n is the number of reaction spaces (2), with n?3 and x is the number of rows, with x?1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying at least one electrical voltage pulse to at least one reaction space by at least partially discharging at least one charge storing unit for storing electrical charges. According to the invention the method comprises applying at least one voltage pulse to a reaction space by at least partially discharging a second charge storing unit and simultaneously charging or partially discharging a first charge storing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device 1 for applying at least one electrical voltage pulse to at least one reaction space, comprising at least two charge storing units (10, 11) for storing electrical charges and at least one power supply unit (12) for charging the charge storing units (10, 11) and/or at least one discharge device for partially discharging the charge storing units (10, 11). According to the invention it is provided that at least two of the charge storing units (10, 11) form a common storage module which can be discharged at any time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the application of at least one voltage pulse to at least two containers fitted with electrodes, by means of which at least one voltage pulse is applied to at least one container, while at least one other container is subjected to a preparation or a post-processing. According to the invention the method comprises mutual exchange of the respective positions of the container to which a voltage pulse has already been applied and the further container. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device (1) for making electrical contact with at least one container fitted with electrodes, with at least one receptacle (3, 7) upon which at least one container can be set, and with at least one contact appliance (8) for making contact with the electrodes of the container.

Abstract: The invention concerns a container 1 with chambers 2 which each comprise at least one pair of electrodes including a first 4 and a second electrode 5 for the application of electric voltage for generating an electric field within one chamber 2. At least two first electrodes 4 of different chambers 3 are conductively coupled and at least one second electrode 5 of said chamber 2 is separately conductively connectable. The invention further concerns a method for manufacturing said container 1 as well as a device for electrically contacting at least one of said containers 1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit arrangement comprising at least one storage device for electrical charges to generate at least one voltage pulse by selectively discharging the storage device, and at least one control unit for controlling the discharge. A controller for monitoring the chronological progression of the voltage pulse is provided which controls at least one continuation of discharge after termination. Biomaterial is treated by using at least one electrical field generated by a first voltage pulse which is terminated once the value for an electrical parameter has exceeded or dropped below a preset limit. After the first voltage pulse has been terminated, it is continued by an additional voltage pulse.

Abstract: A buffer solution for suspending animal or human cells and for dissolving biologically active molecules in order to introduce the biologically active molecules into the cells using electric current. The buffer solution includes at least one of sodium succinate, mannitol and sodium lactobionate. The buffer solution has a buffer capacity of at least 20 mmol*l?1*pH?1 at a change in the from pH 7 to pH 8 and at a temperature of 25° C., and an ionic strength of at least 200 mmol * l?1.

Abstract: A method for introducing biologically active molecules into animal or human cells using electric current includes suspending the cells and dissolving the biologically active molecules in a buffer solution which has a buffer capacity of at least 20 mmol×l?1×pH?1 and an ionic strength of at least 200 mmol×l?1 at a change in the pH from pH 7 to pH 8 and at a temperature of 25° C. to form a suspension. The method further includes applying an electric voltage to the suspension so as to introduce the biologically active molecules into animal or human cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transfection of cells using at least one protein capable of forming nucleoprotein filaments, wherein the protein is initially modified with at least one functional component which influences one or more steps of the transfection, the nucleic acid to be transfected is then loaded with the modified protein, whereby the nucleic acid and the protein form a filament-like complex, and this complex is finally added to the cells to be transfected. The invention further relates to a transfection agent consisting of nucleoprotein filaments (NPF), with at least one nucleoprotein filament-forming protein being modified with at least one functional component for the transfection. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the transfection agent according to the invention for producing a drug for gene therapeutic treatment of humans and animals.