Microstructures Blow Holes in Cell Membranes (IMAGE)

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Microstructures Blow Holes in Cell Membranes

Caption

Nanosecond pulses of laser heat the gold-covered pyramids, causing bubbles to form right at the tip of each pyramid. These bubbles gently push their way into the cell membrane, opening brief pores and allowing molecules to diffuse in.

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(Video courtesy of Harvard SEAS)

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