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Brain astrocyte cell taking up carbon nano-needles, SEM. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.
False-coloured scanning electron microscope of an astrocyte cell (green) in the process of taking up carbon nanotubes (brown). Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure which have been recently explored as drug delivery systems due to their 'nano-needle' characteristics. Part of the cell is cut longitudinally so that the nanotubes are seen interacting with the plasma membrane. Diameter of the cell is approximately 20 micrometres. Scanning electron micrograph 2009