Innovative Nanopillars Pierce The Nuclei Of Human Cells
Ali Sarikhani
Researchers have discovered a way to pierce the nucleus of a cell without damaging the rest of its structure, similar to puncturing the yolk of an egg without breaking the white or the shell. This breakthrough could have significant implications for medical treatments.
To accomplish this, scientists at the University of San Diego designed an array of nanopillars resembling blunt nails. They placed various cell types, including heart muscle, skin cells, and fibroblasts treated with fluorescent dye, on the pillars and observed the results.
Self-Healing Nuclear Membrane
This process created openings in the nuclear membrane while leaving the outer structure of the cells unaffected, as shown by the dye releasing from the nucleus into the cell’s cytoplasm. After the researchers removed the cells from the nanopillars, the cells closed and repaired the openings in the nuclear membrane on their own.
“This is exciting because we can selectively create tiny breaches in the nuclear membrane to access the nucleus while keeping the rest of the cell intact,” said Zeinab Jahed, the study’s senior author.
UC San Diego
Overcoming the Nuclear Membrane Barrier
Achieving this is no easy task, as the nuclear membrane is a notoriously tough barrier that protects our genetic code. Usually, only certain molecules can penetrate it, or a needle is used, which runs the risk of damaging the entire cell. Having a non-destructive method to access the cell nuclei could be a major advancement for gene therapy and drug delivery directly into the core of cells.
Jahed and her team are now investigating the mechanics behind their discovery to better understand how it can be optimized for medical interventions. “Understanding these details will be key to optimizing the platform for clinical use and ensuring that it is both safe and effective for delivering genetic material into the nucleus,” she concluded.
Read the original article: New Atlas
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