Nanodevice tracks intracellular behavior in mouse embryos

Researchers from the University of Bath (UK) have developed a nanoscale tracking device that can be inserted into mammalian cells right at the start of development. The silicon-based nanodevice can track cells through fertilization and growth, giving insights into fundamental biology. The team, led by Tony Perry, Professor at the University of Bath, injected a nanodevice together with sperm, into a mouse egg cell. This resulted in a fertilized egg containing a tracking device. The nanodevice is extremely thin at 22nm and made of flexible silicon, meaning it can bend and mold without hindering the growth of the cell. The...