Scientists have developed a way to sneak nano-sized probes inside cell nuclei where they can track life’s fundamental processes, such as DNA repair, genomic alterations, and cell cycle control.

This may allow researchers to track the effectiveness of disease-fighting drugs that target these processes.

The researchers, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, transported the fluorescent quantum- dot probes inside cell nuclei by attaching a SV40 virus, which is coated with a protein that binds to a cell’s nuclear trafficking mechanism, giving the virus an unhindered ride inside the nucleus.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory news release