Smart bombs to blast tumors
January 6, 2005 | Source: KurzweilAI
Exploding capsules could one day be used to deliver cancer drugs with pinpoint accuracy, New Scientist reports in its January 8 issue.
The capsules, being developed by University of Melbourne researchers, would rupture when heated by a low-energy laser pulse. Anti-cancer drugs would be more effective, and the side effects less severe, if they could home in on a tumor and be delivered in a single burst. This would allow the drug to reach the concentrations needed to kill cancer cells, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
The trick is to enclose the drug in polymer capsules containing gold nanoparticles and attached to tumor-seeking antibodies. When injected into the bloodstream, the capsules will concentrate inside tumors and a pulse from an near-infrared laser will melt the gold, which strongly absorbs near-infrared wavelengths. This will rupture the plastic capsules and release their contents.