Nanobees could also prevent, or at least postpone, cancer. Infection with the human papillomavirus virus or having a mutation on the BRAC gene makes a person more likely to develop cervical or breast cancer, respectively. Regular injections of nanobees could help destroy tumor cells before they develop into full fledged and life threatening cancer. "Instead of getting cancer at 26, a person might not get it until they were 66," said Schlesinger. The nanobees can be tipped with hundreds of various cancer-killing or suppressing compounds, not just melittin. Whatever chemical is attached to the nanobees, the tiny particles are helping to solve one of the biggest problems in cancer treatment: drug delivery, says Chad Mirkin, a nanotechnology researcher at Northwestern University. "We have lots of agents that can kill cells and kill them very well," said Mirkin. "But we need a way to deliver those agents to move around the body and deliver a payload [to tumor cells] with minimal damage to healthy cells." Related Links: |
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