Now, Northwestern University chemists have unveiled a new type of nanostructure that dramatically improves CRISPR delivery and potentially extends its scope of utility. CRISPR needs a rideWhen CRISPR machinery reaches its target inside a cell, it can disable genes, fix mutations, add new functions and more. In the new study, Mirkin’s team started with an LNP core carrying the CRISPR machinery inside. They also analyzed the cells’ DNA to determine if CRISPR had made the desired gene edits. In every category, the system demonstrated its ability to successfully deliver CRISPR machinery and enable complex genetic modifications.