'Scientists can now put nanoscale tattoos onto individual cells inside your body'

'Scientists can now put nanoscale tattoos onto individual cells inside your body'

"How to make a nanoscale tattoos: 

The engineers crafted these tattoos from gold, employing arrays to ensure no signal loss or distortion in electronic wiring. The tattoos were attached to human fibroblasts, cells that create and sustain human tissue. 

They then treated the arrays with molecular glues, using an alginate hydrogel film to transfer them onto the cells. Once the gold adhered to the cell, the gel-like laminate dissolved, and the molecular glue bonded to the extracellular matrix, a film secreted by the cells. 

The team demonstrated the robustness of these structures by ensuring that they stuck to soft cells for a full 16 hours, even as the cells moved. This builds upon previous research that utilized hydrogels to adhere nanotechnology to human skin and animal organs.

Biosensor technology at the cellular level: 

What makes Gracias’ work standout is addressing the age-old challenge of integrating optical sensors and electronics with biological matter at the single-cell level. 

“We’ve shown we can attach complex nanopatterns to living cells, while ensuring that the cell doesn’t die,” Gracias elaborated. He emphasized the significance of this, saying, “It’s a very important result that the cells can live and move with the tattoos because there’s often a significant incompatibility between living cells and the methods engineers use to fabricate electronics.” 

The deliberate arrangement of the dots and wires in specific patterns on these nanoscale tattoos is essential for tracking bioinformation. This design must be precise, mirroring the way sensors and wiring are aligned in electronic chips. “This is an array with specific spacing,” Gracias explained, “not a haphazard bunch of dots.” 

As the team looks to the future, they are planning experiments to attach more complex nanocircuits that can endure for more extended periods and are keen to experiment with different cell types. 

The success of this innovative technology opens a new frontier in healthcare. It offers a glimpse into the future where individual cell monitoring may revolutionize early disease diagnosis and treatment."