ADViSYS Turns to Paragon Innovations to Improve Electroporation Device for DNA Vaccine Applications in Small and Large Animals
Electroporation is emerging as the preferred method to administer DNA vaccines, and skeletal muscle appears to be one of the best target tissues. Based upon years of research, ADViSYS, Inc. was developing a cutting-edge electrokinetic device (EKD) using the latest innovations in gene delivery to muscle cells. ADViSYS’s enducer is a device designed to introduce small molecules, plasmid DNA, or dyes into muscle fibers through electroporation. Existing electroporation technology had the potential for cell destruction through loss of square-wave function and overheating. ADViSYS wished to avoid this by introducing a new technology: pulsed constant-current control.
Challenge
The previous technology used to introduce DNA into muscle fibers could cause cell damage through loss of square-wave function. Initially, ADViSYS had engaged a design firm who had little success trying to implement ADViSYS’s concepts for an electroporator based on constant current. It was crucial to find a product development company with the expertise to design and develop this new technology.
They found a better way. Paragon Innovations.
Solution
Paragon provided the following services:
- Designed high-voltage pulse current control
- Redesigned product from an unreliable, old technology to microprocessor-based design
- Reduced PCBs from four to one by utilizing the latest microprocessor technology
- Provided means to log and save electroporation waveform data to dramatically improve control and measurement of electroporation process
- Streamlined design and reduced bulk and weight
Result
- Exceeded customer design requirements for pulsed constant current control
- Performed redesign from a heavy, unreliable product with four PCBs to a single PCB microprocessor-based design
- Provided extensive waveform logging to measure electroporation effectiveness and reliability
- Improved handle assembly process to improve the poor connectors of the original electrode array
ADViSYS succeeded with the design of a high-voltage pulse current in their Electroporation Enducer with the added benefit of greater ability to control and measure the electroporation process. The constant- current device maintains a square-wave function in the target tissue irrespective of changes in tissue resistance. This versatile technology can be applied to facilitate plasmid delivery in both large and small animals.
