Research News
Photo: Marc Schneider/cc-NanoBioNet/Deutscher Verband Nanotechnologie
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A Medication Taxi
No, what we see here is not sweet corn. It is a microscopically small transport vehicle that was developed by researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Saarland University. With this prototype of an "active agent taxi", they intend to test the transport of pharmaceutical drugs within lung cells. For this scanning electron microscope image, the scientists around Junior Professor Dr Marc Schneider and Prof. Dr Claus-Michael Lehr received the second prize in the Germany-wide "Nano-Momente 2012" photography competition. The image shows a micro-taxi carrying tiny particles, which are to deliver the pharmaceuticals within the cells, in this case, lung cells. To protect itself from pathogens, our body maintains biological barriers such as the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. However, these make it also harder for drugs to reach their target. This is where the innovative transporter is to facilitate matters.
