Leading laser scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed a new method of delivering genes to cells using laser light. The new technique, which is cheap and powerful, could have important implications for future studies in biomedicine and healthcare.
Optical technology has huge potential for novel developments in the bio-medical field and St Andrews has outstanding research groups in this area. The new method -which involves a miniature violet laser -is cheap, simple, powerful and versatile. Its adaptability means it could have potentially wide medical applications including gene therapy, the delivery of anti-cancer agents and advanced studies of neuro-degenerative diseases.
The development, published today, is the work of a team of researchers from across the University – with key figures from the School of Physics and Astronomy, the School of Biology and The Bute Medical School.
Key researchers Lynn Paterson and Ben Agate of the School of Physics and Astronomy said:
“We believe we have only touched the surface with this technology: the method is simple and inexpensive and could have important bio-medical implications and should find wide use. Since it also has the potential to assist in the cellular delivery of other bio-molecules, we are now looking at other cell types to see how widely applicable the method proves to be.”