Single-cell microinjection technology in cell biology.

Single-cell microinjection has been successfully used to deliver exogenous proteins, cDNA constructs, peptides, drugs and particles into transfection-challenged cells. With precisely controlled delivery dosage and timing, microinjection has been used in many studies of primary cultured cells, transgenic animal production, in vitro fertilization and RNA inference. This review discusses the advantages and limits of microinjection as a mechanical delivery method and its applications to attached and suspended cells.