Biohacking Village during DEF CON 32

Electroporation uses electric pulses to create temporary pores in cell membranes. It's like using a can opener on the cell. This physical method of gene transfer can insert nucleic acids into the cell with ease. Some engineers have created a DIY electroporation device called the Electropen, but we created the BioVolt. This device uses the same principle of electroporation but in a compact, accessible form. We have developed additional hacks to this device and We will demonstrate the utility of the BioVolt-poration device by preparing E. coli (BL21 strain) electrocompetent cells and transforming them with a recombinant plasmid expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). And then also showcase outcomes for what is needed for use on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (autologous). This proves that even a homemade device can achieve significant scientific results.

ElectroPen: An ultra-low–cost, electricity-free, portable electroporator https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000589

The Electropen is a DIY electroporator designed by the 2018 Lambert GA iGEM team (Bhamla Lab capable of generating the 1,500V necessary to temporarily permeate cell membranes and introduce DNA into cells for transformations or transfections.

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000589#sec007 2018.igem.org/Team:Lambert_GA/Hardware