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Nanotreatment to replace radiation and chemotherapy
Photo: RIA Novosti
We all want to be healthy, don’t we? But even though traditional medicine has made breakthroughs in many areas over the last century, there are still diseases doctors can’t fight. That’s where nanomedicine steps in. This field of innovative science ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology.
“Nanotech for dummies” on Radio VR: latest innovative developments in one of the most complex scientific fields from A to Z.
Two forms of nanomedicine that have already been tested in mice and are awaiting human trials will help diagnose and treat cancer. Nanotechnology has also provided the possibility of delivering drugs to specific cells using nanoparticles. So how does it work?
As it is difficult to track a small group of cells throughout the body, scientists used to dye the cells. These dyes needed to be excited by light of a certain wavelength in order for them to light up. While different color dyes absorb different frequencies of light, there was a need for as many light sources as cells, which is a lot as you can imagine. A way around this problem is luminescent tags called “quantum dots”. Alexander Balandin, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of California River Side and the leader of the Nano Device Lab, explains how these little friends can help treat cancer.
“Quantum dots are extremely tiny pieces of material. So, what you can potentially do is inject quantum dots in a body and if they are properly functionalized they can attach to certain biological objects – let’s say, bad cells, cancer cells – and in this case you can selectively kill the cancer cells, while leaving healthy ones alone. And in this sense you can potentially improve drug delivery, so nanotechnology provides great hope in terms of its medical application”.
The downside, however, is that quantum dots are usually made of quite toxic elements. Fortunately, there is another promising nanotreatment on the way that may one day replace radiation and chemotherapy, says Robert Hoffman, President of Anticancer, Inc.
“We are studying very small particles called XO-zones that are released by cells, including cancer cells that transfer small RNAs or little bits of genetic information from cell to cell and may have extreme importance on how cancer behaves and how cancer may be attacked therapeutically. This is one way we are studying and another way we are developing very small bacteria that can kill cancer”.
These special bacteria will target and destroy cancer cells. Sounds fantastic, right? But nanomedicine is not all about finding a cure for cancer. There is also genetic engineering, cell repair machines and even nanorobots, which would be introduced into the body to detect damage and infections. A typical blood borne medical nanorobot is said to be between 0.5–3 micrometers in size. No worries for the Robotropolis conspiracy theory fans, so far most of these projects exist only on paper. Nevertheless, nanomedicine has already turned into a large industry, with sales and investments reaching billions of dollars, and with over 200 companies worldwide.
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