A single cell endoscope

Researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed an endoscope that can provide high-resolution optical images of the interior of a single living cell. The endoscope can also precisely deliver genes, proteins, drugs or other cargo without injuring or damaging the cell. The scientists attached a tin oxide nanowire waveguide to the tapered end of an optical fiber to create this new endoscope system. This highly versatile and mechanically robust nanowire-based optical probe technology may also be applied to biosensing and single-cell electrophysiology.