ABOUT

Scanning electron micrograph of a single brain cell (coloured green and pink). A rectangular cut has been made in the cell to watch how tiny, nanometre-sized (1 nanometre = 0.000001 mm) particles (coloured red and brown) interact with its surface. These tiny particles are called carbon nanotubes and are nano-sized cylinders made of carbon atoms. They are being researched for their ability to act as carriers to deliver drugs or genes to cells – for example, anticancer medicines to a tumour. This is particularly important in the brain because many medicines cannot easily cross the blood–brain barrier, a protective layer of cells that regulates entry of molecules to the brain.

Electron micrograph.
Diameter of the cell is approximately 20 micrometres (0.02 mm).