Sonoporation is the formation of small pores in cell membranes using ultrasound. It is used for transfering DNA/RNA into cells.
The ultrasound produces microscopic cavitation bubbles in the mixure of cells. These cavitation bubbles can then implode producing a shockwave while on or near the surface of a cell membrane. The tiny shockwave produces pores in the cell membrane allowing for DNA/RNA to diffuse into the cell.
Sources/references:
- Sonoporation: Mechanical DNA Delivery by Ultrasonic Cavitation
- Transfection of a reporter plasmid into cultured cells by sonoporation in vitro
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavitation