Key points from article :
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new technology that can create tiny openings in the nucleus of a living cell without harming the cell’s outer membrane. This delicate feat is achieved using an array of nanopillars—nanoscale cylindrical structures—that allow the nucleus to wrap around them and form small, self-sealing openings. The outer membrane of the cell remains intact, which makes this breakthrough non-invasive and potentially transformative for applications like gene therapy and drug delivery.
Zeinab Jahed, professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San Diego and senior author of the study, highlighted the significance of this tool. "It’s not easy to get anything into the nucleus," Jahed explained, emphasizing the challenges posed by the nucleus's highly selective membrane. Current methods, such as using needles to puncture the cell and nucleus, are invasive and limited in scale. The nanopillar technology, however, offers a more efficient and less disruptive way to access the genetic material housed in the nucleus.
Published in Advanced Functional Materials, the research demonstrated that the nanopillars work across different cell types, including epithelial and heart muscle cells. The team observed that cells with fluorescent dye inside their nuclei leaked the dye into the surrounding cytoplasm, confirming that only the nuclear membrane was breached. This development holds exciting potential for precision medicine, though further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind it and optimize it for clinical use.
