Aarhus builds DNA‑origami needle for cell delivery
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- Aarhus University researchers created a DNA‑origami needle that mimics a bacteriophage and can insert a payload directly into cells.
- The needle is equipped with antibodies for cell‑type targeting, a cholesterol base for membrane binding, a polymer coating for protection, and a cleavable tip that releases the cargo inside the cytosol.
- The team demonstrated proof‑of‑concept delivery of a fluorescent dye into breast‑cancer cells, showing the payload reached the cytosol without endosomal trapping.
- Kurt Vesterager Gothelf, senior author, notes the method still cannot deliver large molecules and that further funding is needed to test therapeutic payloads.
- Mette Galsgaard Malle used HILO microscopy to track the needle’s intracellular journey, confirming successful entry and cargo release.
- Advanced Science published the study (Anirban Samanta et al., 2026), describing the platform as modular and potentially adaptable to various diseases, though initial cost may limit early use to rare genetic disorders.
Why it matters: Patients with rare genetic disorders could benefit from more efficient intracellular delivery of oligonucleotides, while pharmaceutical developers may gain a new platform for targeted therapies; however, high production costs and unresolved immune‑toxicology issues could limit early adoption, and the need for protective outer layers may add complexity.
