BTX Genetrodes^TM  are needle-style reusable electrodes that are used for a variety of applications. Genetrodes come in two styles; each style comes as of a pair of electrodes. The Genetrodes styles are available as straight needle type gold tip electrodes with beveled ends or bent L-shaped electrodes with blunt ends.. The Genetrodes can be positioned in parallel at a predetermined gap within a tissue using the Genetrode Holder.   Genetrodes may be cleaned with a mild detergent and sterilized with ethanol or ethylene oxide. Properly maintained Genetrodes have a life span of approximately 1500+ pulses, and are compatible with most BTX Electroporation Systems.

APPLICATIONS

• In Vivo Gene Delivery

• Ex Vivo Gene Delivery

• In Ovo Gene Delivery

General Applications: These Genetrodes may be used for many in vivo and in ovo electroporation applications, including drug and gene delivery. The electrodes are either inserted into a tissue or placed along side the target tissues following injection of the molecule of interest, an electroporation pulse is delivered using a BTX Electroporation System, such as the ECM830 and ECM 2001. The electric field introduced by the Genetrodes causes transient pores to form in the cells of the tissue, allowing uptake of the molecules into the cells.

In Vivo Applications using the various types of Genetrodes: The straight sharp electrode tip 5mm or 10mm is a general in vivo electrode.   They  have been used for a variety of applications. Eide et al. used the Genetrodes along with the ECM 830 to introduce plasmid DNA into free swimming embryonic Xenopus laevis.² Dean et al. used the Genetrodes on mouse cornea, which resulted in a 30-fold higher expression than that obtained with Lipofectin.³ Murphy et al. used the Genetrodes with ECM 830 to introduce plasmid DNA into a mouse cerebellum, where he concluded that electroporation is a viable means of transferring genes to the central nervous system.

 In Ovo Applications using the L-shaped Genetrodes: Theses electrodes are ideally suited for in ovo gene transfer studies. Kos used the L-Shaped Genetrodes to successfully introduce gene expression and morpholino antisense oligonucleotides in ovo ¹ and Paquette et al. used these L-Shaped Genetrodes to drive plasmid DNA into the neural tube of a developing egg in which widespread gene expression was observed.⁵