University of Delaware researchers have created “nanobombs” by bundling carbon nanotubes and irradiating them with heat from a laser beam.

They have created the explosions in solutions including water, phosphate and salt, which means the nanobombs could possibly be used in the human body to kill cancer cells.

According to the researchers, the nanobombs are superior to current treatments because they are powerful, selective, non-invasive, nontoxic and can incorporate current technology, including microsurgery.

Another advantage over other carbon nanotube treatments is that with nanobombs, the carbon nanotubes are destroyed along with the cancer cells. Once the nanobombs are exploded and kill cancer cells, macrophages can effectively clear the cell debris and the exploded nanotube along with it.

Source: University of Delaware news release