Beyond Gene Editing: Waseda University Develops Nanotube Platform to Transfer Organelles Between Living Cells

Researchers develop a gold nanotube membrane capable of transferring cytoplasm and functional mitochondria between living cells with 95% viability.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 10:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Waseda University

The Challenge of Cytoplasmic Engineering

In the natural world, cells are far from isolated; they frequently exchange proteins and organelles to repair damage or respond to stress. However, replicating this process in a laboratory setting has proven difficult. Traditional methods like cell lysis destroy the source cells, while delivery vehicles like lipids are often too small for complex structures. To date, scientists have lacked a reliable tool to directly manipulate the "guts" of a living cell without compromising its life. A new breakthrough from Waseda University suggests that nanotechnology may provide the "surgical" precision needed to bridge this gap.

Nanotube Precision: How the Injector Works

The newly developed platform utilizes a thin gold membrane featuring vertically aligned nanotubes. This membrane is mounted onto a glass tube where internal air pressure can be precisely controlled. When the nanotubes are pressed against a group of donor cells, they penetrate the cell membrane with minimal trauma. By adjusting the pressure, the researchers can "suck up" the cytoplasmic contents, transport the material, and then gently flush it into a target cell population using a buffer solution. This mechanical approach bypasses the need for viral vectors or chemical detergents, keeping both the donor and recipient cells intact.

Restoring Cellular Energy with Mitochondrial Transfer

The most significant test of the platform involved the transfer of mitochondria—the powerhouses of the cell. Mitochondria are often damaged in aging or disease, and restoring them is a primary goal of regenerative medicine. The Waseda team successfully delivered dozens of functional mitochondria into recipient cells. Following the transfer, the recipient cells showed significantly higher levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) compared to control groups. This proves that the transferred organelles not only survived the journey but remained metabolically active, effectively "recharging" the target cells.