March 30, 2009 -- Nanoparticles that could first illuminate and then destroy hidden tumors have been created by scientists at the University of California, San Diego. If approved for clinical use, the new technique could improve the odds of survival for cancer patients by letting doctors diagnose and treat cancer earlier. It would also, in theory, minimize the toxic side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. "The advantage is that if the nanostructure localizes [near the tumor], it gives you an improved ability to see or treat the tumor," said Michael Sailor, a scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who detailed the research in a recent issue of Nature Materials. The drawback to most techniques for finding and treating cancer is toxicity. The same radioactive cadmium that accumulates inside tumors and shines light that MRI machines can detect also destroys various internal organs. Chemotherapy drugs such as abraxane destroy tumor cells but also kill plenty of healthy cells. Related Content:
Scientists started with thin silicon wafers, similar to those used in the semiconductor industry, and broke them into nano-sized pieces using ultrasound. To treat cancer, the particles would soak up whatever cancer drug would work best in a given case. The scientists then coat the particles in a thin layer of dextrose, a form of sugar. The end result, according to Sailor, are cancer-killing pastries. "They're like little jelly doughnuts, rolled in chocolate to seal everything in," said Sailor. Once the poisonous particles are injected into the bloodstream, they travel around the body. Tumors need a lot of blood to grow quickly, but they are not good plumbers. The blood vessels surrounding the tumors are thin and full of holes. Those holes are typically just over 100 nanometers in size, just big enough for the 100-nanometer nanoparticles to slip through and get stuck inside the tumor itself.The particles, made of nontoxic silicon instead of traditional toxic cadmium, glow under ultraviolet light. After about an hour of circulating through the body, enough of them have physically lodged themselves near the tumor to be detected by an MRI machine, helping doctors pinpoint the location. Get More NewsMouse Cloned From Long-Frozen CellResearchers create a mouse from a long-frozen cell. Will the mammoth be next?'Bubble' Could Protect AstronautsScientists say a "bubble" around a Mars-bound spaceship could protect astronauts.Big Reduction of Snowmobiles in Yellowstone ProposedA new plan would cut snowmobile use by 40 percent in Yellowstone.Microbes: Fuel of the Future?A reddish South American microbe is literally breathing fuel, say scientists.DNA Links Remains to Steve FossetDNA tests on two bones found in California confirm they are those of Steve Fossett.Women Carry More Bacteria Than MenSome bacteria prefer women, suggests a new study. But why?Ancient 'Water Monster' Facing ExtinctionA foot-long salamander that was a key part of Aztec legend is threatened by extinction.Grand Canyon's Youth ConfirmedThe Grand Canyon is millions of years younger than previously thought, argue geologists.My Take: E-Voting Not User FriendlyOpinion: Electronic voting machines don't always capture the intent of voters.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.At 40, Brain and Body SlowThe part of the brain in charge of motion starts a gradual slide in middle age.Spiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates. |
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Get the Wide Angle on Nanotech and CancerNanotechnology offers potential for detecting and treating cancer without altering healthy cells. That means targeted death for cancerous tumors without the negative side effects of conventional therapies. We'll take a look at some of these methods and also explore the risks and promises of this new scientific field.
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