McCormick researchers develop method of delivering molecules
into targeted cells
Northwestern University researchers have developed a new
method for delivering molecules into single, targeted cells through temporary
holes in the cell surface. The technique could find applications in drug
delivery, cell therapy, and related biological fields.
Bulk electroporation — a technique used to deliver molecules
into cells through reversible nanopores in the cell membrane that are caused by
exposing them to electric pulses — is an increasingly popular method of cell
transfection. (Cell transfection is the introduction of molecules, such as
nucleic acids or proteins, into a cell to change its properties.)