Imitating viruses to deliver drugs to cells
Sunday, August 30, 2015 - 16:00
in Biology & Nature
Viruses are able to redirect the functioning of cells in order to infect them. Inspired by their mode of action, scientists have designed a "chemical virus" that can cross the double lipid layer that surrounds cells, and then disintegrate in the intracellular medium in order to release active compounds. To achieve this, the team used two polymers they had designed, which notably can self-assemble or dissociate, depending on the conditions.