# Acoustic-transfection using high frequency ultrasound for intracellular delivery of macromolecules into targeted single cells

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME · 2020 · $249,000

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Dr. Sangpil Yoon is a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of
Southern California (USC). He has developed an innovative technique for the intracellular delivery of
macromolecules using high frequency ultrasound. Dr. Yoon is a perfect candidate for NIH Pathway to
Independence Award (K99/R00) and he will smoothly transit from a mentored trainee to an independent
investigator by completing research goals and career development training plans, proposed in this award
proposal. Dr. Yoon has three mentors to provide their expertise and constructive and critical advice during his
award period. Dr. Yoon will have trainings in ultrasound and medical ultrasonic transducer development from
Dr. Kirk Shung, USC, molecular and cellular biology from Dr. Yingxiao Wang, University of California, San
Diego (UCSD), and stem cell and regenerative medicine from Dr. Qi-Long Ying, USC.
Transfection methods currently available in research laboratories and clinics are based on non-targeted and
random process such as viral-vectors and electroporation. I have developed an innovative transfection method
by focusing acoustic energy within very confined area of less than 10 μm using a very high frequency
ultrasonic transducer with a center frequency of over 150 MHz, entitled acoustic-transfection. The key
innovation is that the acoustic-transfection has the capabilities of single-cell level targeting and controlling the
size of delivered macromolecules with low cytotoxicity. The hypothesis is that the developed acoustic-
transfection can deliver various kinds of macromolecules into different cells with the peculiar capabilities that
distinguish from other transfection methods.
Understanding of signaling pathways and the activation of important molecular events during intracellular and
intercellular interactions are important because these are a basic building block to identify cell phenotypes and
some molecular events are precedent for certain disease. Based on this understanding, engineering cell fate
and cell functions using efficient gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9 and the generation of iPSCs by delivering
recombinant proteins for regenerative medicine will further advance human health. Therefore, the primary goal
of this proposal is to deliver desired molecules using acoustic-transfection into designated cells to visualize
cell-to-cell interactions and the signaling of important molecular events, to induce gene expressions, and to
demonstrate the delivery of recombinant proteins labeled with fluorescence dyes. To test hypothesis and to
achieve the goal of this proposal, three specific aims were developed. 1) I will further optimize acoustic-
transfection using macromolecules with different sizes. 2) I will deliver FRET biosensors into neighboring or
single cells to visualize molecular events under stimulation. 3) pCas9_GFP will be delivered into hESCs and
GFP expression will be observed. Recombinant pro...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889137
- **Project number:** 5R00GM120493-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- **Principal Investigator:** Sangpil Yoon
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889137

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889137, Acoustic-transfection using high frequency ultrasound for intracellular delivery of macromolecules into targeted single cells (5R00GM120493-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889137. Licensed CC0.

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