Researchers at the University of Delaware are making a significant breakthrough in the fight against cancer with a new technology for detecting and treating cancer: nano “bombs” that can explode breast cancer tumors.
Balaji Panchapakesan, an associate professor at the University of Delaware and the lead researcher, stated that the research is still in its early stages and requires further studies and extensive testing before this technology can be applied to human treatment.
“There can be no mistakes, and we are focused on rooting out cancer completely,” Panchapakesan said. These nano “bombs” are the result of over two years of research on carbon nanotubes (which consist of carbon atoms arranged in a cylindrical structure) by Panchapakesan’s team.
Initially, the research team considered using carbon nanotubes as drug delivery devices. Due to their smaller size than a single cell, these nanotubes can deliver drugs precisely to individual cells.
However, as the effectiveness of the nanotubes was validated through various experiments, the research team made a more remarkable discovery: using them to create nano “bombs.” These “bombs” are encapsulated in carbon nanotubes and can be used to destroy cancer cells.
The scientists have successfully recreated the explosion of the nano “bomb” in a solution consisting of water, phosphate, and salt, which means these nano “bombs” could be utilized within the human body. “This nano ‘bomb’ is localized to a very small area and causes minimal impact on the body; it may cause a slight pain similar to a pinprick,” Panchapakesan explained.
Panchapakesan believes that this type of nano “bomb” holds great potential as a means to eliminate cancer cells, particularly for breast cancer. It is far more effective than current treatment methods due to its powerful, selective impact, non-destructive nature, and non-toxic properties, and it can be combined with existing methods, including microsurgery.
So far, nanotechnology has demonstrated many important applications such as cancer treatment and diagnosis. Panchapakesan also predicts that nanobots or nano surgical devices may be introduced into the human body to remove tumors in areas that traditional medical methods cannot reach.
T.VY (According to Physorg)
