US 7,320,885 B1
Method of perforating membrane and apparatus therefor
Takashi Saito, Tokyo (Japan)
Assigned to Toudai TLO, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Appl. No. 10/70,157
PCT Filed Sep. 06, 2000, PCT No. PCT/JP00/06045
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Jul. 12, 2002,
PCT Pub. No. WO01/19953, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 22, 2001.
Claims priority of application No. 11-255024 (JP), filed on Sep. 09, 1999.
Int. Cl. C12N 13/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 435—173.5  [435/173.7; 435/375] 43 Claims
 
1. A method of perforating a membrane comprising:
selecting a site on a membrane;
bringing a membrane-denaturing substance into contact with or close proximity to said site of said membrane, said membrane being a cell membrane, intracellular membrane, or artificial lipid membrane;
providing a stimulus to said substance so as to denature the selected site of said membrane; and
perforating said denatured selected site of said membrane with a membrane-destroying member;
wherein said substance is a photosensitizer or photocatalyst and said stimulus is light, and wherein said light is carried through said membrane-destroying member from a light source.