Blog @ NanoVic - Nanotechnology Blog

Scientists at Rice University have captured the first optical images of carbon nanotubes inside a living organism.  Using fruit flies, the researchers confirmed that a technique developed at Rice — near-infrared fluorescent imaging — was capable of detecting DNA-sized nanotubes inside living fruit flies.  In the study, fruit fly larvae were raised on a yeast paste that contained carbon nanotubes.         

With a custom-built microscope to excite a fluorescent glow from the carbon nanotubes, the researchers were able to use a special camera to view the glowing nanotubes inside living flies.   When the researchers removed and examined tissues from the flies, they found the near-infrared microscope allowed them to see and identify individual nanotubes inside the tissue specimens.

Interesting piece of research, but not sure I would want to add carbon nanotubes to my diet quite yet, but in time who knows!  I guess that is the beauty of science one never knows what may happen in the future.