MOLECULE-RELEASING APPARATUS AND MOLECULE-RELEASING METHOD

摘要

It is intended to provide an apparatus for safely releasing molecules and a method of releasing molecules by which various useful molecules such as DNA can be efficiently released and migrated toward a subject such as cells and which are applicable to gene therapy and so on. The molecule-releasing apparatus has a molecule-releasing means whereby an electrical interaction between molecules with a conductive member under the application of an electrical potential is relieved by changing the potential so as to release the molecules from the conductive member. Preferable embodiments of the apparatus include one wherein the conductive member is provided close to the subject toward which the molecules are migrated or the conductive member pierces into the subject, one wherein the conductive member is an electrode, one wherein two or more conductive members are provided, one wherein the electrode is a needle electrode, one wherein molecules can be released at different timings by the molecule-releasing means, one wherein molecules are selected from among ionic polymers, etc. In the molecule-releasing method, molecules electrically attracted by two or more conductive members are released at different timings from the conductive members due to electrical repulsive forces.