Scientists looking for new ways to deliver DNA to cells have turned to carbon nanofibers. Like tiny needles, these fibers can be used to inject DNA into the cell nucleus, a process called “microinjection.”

The researchers tethered DNA to carbon fibers, which were then poked into cells in culture. The new technique could potentially be used to inject DNA into millions of cells in parallel, rather than one at a time.

The technique could be used to deliver and turn on a gene inside a specific cell for a controlled period of time. Although the technology is still in its infancy, one application could be a skin patch that would inject drugs or proteins into surface cell.

This image shows a nanofiber chip with hamster cells on top.  The fibers are prepared with DNA for fluorescent protein, which glows green when it reacts in a cell.  In the background, the cells injected with nanofibers glow green. 
 

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