Fig. 1: Optically triggered nanobombs are composed of a vapor bubble (VB) core particle to which nanoprojectiles are conjugated. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Optically triggered nanobombs are composed of a vapor bubble (VB) core particle to which nanoprojectiles are conjugated.

From: Light triggered nanoscale biolistics for efficient intracellular delivery of functional macromolecules in mammalian cells

Fig. 1

Upon irradiation with an intense laser pulse, the nanobomb core will heat up to several hundreds of degrees Celsius, thus evaporating the surrounding water and forming a VB. The mechanical forces by VB expansion and collapse propel the nanoprojectiles across the plasma membrane of nearby cells. Foreign molecules, such as mRNA, present in the cell medium can then migrate into the cell’s cytoplasm.

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