Nanowires Inject Molecules Into Living Cells 45
TechRev_AL writes "A scientist at Harvard University has developed a clever trick for manipulating the insides of living cells. Hongkun Park grows cells on top of nanowires so that the wires poke into them like needles, which allows molecules to be delivered inside them. To use the nanowires to deliver molecules, Park's team first treats them with a chemical that would allow molecules to bind relatively weakly to the surface of the nanowires. Then they coat the wires with a molecule or combination of molecules of interest. When cells are impaled on the nanowires, the molecules are released into the cells' interior. This gallery of images shows the cells growing on top of the nanowires."
Re:I feel so... (Score:4, Funny)
I wonder if anything in nature *cough* asbestos *cough* operates similarly by providing ingress to the cell.
Ugh, there goes the neighborhood (Score:1, Funny)
Before you know it, every snot nosed punk looking to be "cool" and "tough" will be walking around with nanoscopic piercings.