Sneaking Spies into a Cell’s Nucleus

The ultimate goal is to be able to find the moment when a cell starts to become abnormal causing disease. Duke University has made a major contribution to this effort by discovering a way to slip a spy through a cell wall and into the cell’s nucleus. They completed this task by using silver nanoparticles that are coated with a small portion of HIV protein. The components of the spy are chosen very carefully. The silver nanoparticles are chosen because they are not rejected by the body and they are very reflective of light. The HIV protein is used so that the spy can easily enter the cell and its nucleus, but only a small amount so that no damage is done in the process. Once the nanoparticle is in the nucleus, we can observe the effects that different chemicals can have within the nucleus. An old technique called surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can be used to test if the nanoparticles have successfully entered the nucleus of the cell. The Raman scatter occurs when the target molecule receives light and returns with its own unique light. The Raman response is enhanced when it is paired with a metal nanoparticle. With this step, they hope to be able to detect early stages in disease, such as cancer, so they can find a way to put treatment into the nanoparticle and prevent the disease from the start.

I found this article interesting because it is a step in the direction towards finding a cure for cancer. I have many friends that have suffered from cancer, and this article gives me hope that someday this will be a preventable disease.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100928111237.htm