A new method for permeabilization of cultured cells without cell damage.

Transient permeabilization was readily achieved by vortex-stirring cultured mammalian cells for a few seconds in the presence of 1 to 10 micrograms/ml of high molecular weight polyacrylic acid (PAA). This was demonstrated by an appreciable uptake by murine leukemia L1210 cells of Lucifer Yellow (LY), which is known to be a non-permeant except under conditions in which micropores are induced in the plasma membrane. In addition, the cytotoxicity of bleomycin (BLM), a very poor permeant, was markedly enhanced by vortex-stirring with PAA. Scope and limitation of this permeabilization procedure is preliminarily described.