Technology News

Stem cell heart surgery may spell the end for transplantation
British scientists have developed a new technique that can rebuild a severely damaged heart, and one day, might replace the need for transplantation. ANI

A new insight into the turbulent atmosphere of Venus
New images taken by instruments on board ESAs (European Space Agencys) Venus Express have provided insight into the turbulent atmosphere of our neighbouring planet. ANI

ESA tests laser to measure atmospheric CO2
A recent ESA (European Space Agency) campaign has demonstrated how a technique using lasers could be employed to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. ANI

Now, a new way to introduce DNA into living cells by water droplets

Japanese researchers have devised a way to introduce foreign genes into the cells of a diseased organism, so that they may address deficiencies to compensate for malfunctions in the body.

Washington, January 20 : Japanese researchers have devised a way to introduce foreign genes into the cells of a diseased organism, so that they may address deficiencies to compensate for malfunctions in the body.

Takafumi Sakai, an expert at the Saitama University, says that the new technique can represent a true alternative to conventional processes wherein electrical current or UV lasers are used to make a cell membrane porous, so that synthetic DNA could be introduced into them.

The researcher says that the new method, developed in collaboration with Dr. Kazuto Ikemoto of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, involves the bombarding of cells with tiny electrically charged water droplets.

The droplets tear tiny holes in the cell membranes, through which external DNA molecules can enter. After about one minute, the holes have closed back up and even delicate cells survive the procedure undamaged.

This method is based on a technique called electrospray, which has long been used with success, particularly in mass spectrometry.

During the process, the tip of an extremely fine steel capillary is put under a high voltage. A highly charged drop of water exits the capillary, and gets atomised into many micro- or nanoscopic droplets.

The charged microdroplets are strongly accelerated in an electrical field, toward the plate holding the cell culture.he researchers say that the new method is suitable for a large variety of cell types - mammalian cell cultures and bacteria, as well as living tissue.

Only pure water or a cell-tolerated saline solution are used, and a specific point on some tissue can be targeted, they add.

The researchers also say that the equipment required for the procedure is simple, inexpensive, and portable.

The new procedure has been described in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

ANI