Laser Created Jets Deliver Chemicals to Live Cells

Researchers at Duke University have created a method of delivering aqueous based drugs to live cells. The researchers focused lasers onto a liquid that surrounded the live cell. The resulting energy of the lasers created tiny bubbles to grow and collapse. The bubbles individually create shock waves in the liquid. When the bubbles are formed adjacently, however, powerful jets are formed that are powerful enough to poke tiny holes in the cell membrane. The blue dye liquid the researchers were creating the bubbles in was found inside the cells after the jets poked holes in the cell membrane. The holes were only 0.2 microns in diameter. Researchers are now looking into surrounding the live cells with aqueous drugs and delivering the drugs via the tiny jet-created holes.

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2010/08/duke-fluid-jets-deliver-drugs-to-cells.html