Japanese researchers have developed a new technology for implanting genes into cells, which uses chitosan extracted from crab shells and is safer than traditional techniques.
Biological studies often involve the implantation of genes into cells. A common practice is to first combine genes with certain compounds and then combine the two with the cells of interest. The commonly used auxiliary compound is polyethylenimine, but the substance has certain toxicity and low safety.
According to "Nikkei Industry News," reported on the 28th, researchers at Osaka City University and Kyushu University in Japan extracted chitosan from crab shells, and changed its chemical structure and combined it with carbohydrates. A more water-soluble compound. The compound is positively charged and the gene is negatively charged, so if the two are mixed together, they can bind to each other. The experimental results show that this novel compound, as an auxiliary compound, can successfully implant the desired gene into many cells including human cells, and it is non-toxic and harmless, improving the safety of the implantation process.
Biological studies often involve the implantation of genes into cells. A common practice is to first combine genes with certain compounds and then combine the two with the cells of interest. The commonly used auxiliary compound is polyethylenimine, but the substance has certain toxicity and low safety.
According to "Nikkei Industry News," reported on the 28th, researchers at Osaka City University and Kyushu University in Japan extracted chitosan from crab shells, and changed its chemical structure and combined it with carbohydrates. A more water-soluble compound. The compound is positively charged and the gene is negatively charged, so if the two are mixed together, they can bind to each other. The experimental results show that this novel compound, as an auxiliary compound, can successfully implant the desired gene into many cells including human cells, and it is non-toxic and harmless, improving the safety of the implantation process.