Nanoparticle 'Cocktail' Kills Cancer Cells

US. scientists have developed a 'cocktail' of nanoparticles that work in the bloodstream, seeking-out cancer cells to kill them.
Developed by bioengineers at Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT) and cell biologists at University of California (CALTEC), the nanosystem uses particles measured in nanometers, equal to one billionth of a meter, a thousand times smaller than the thickness of a human single hair.
A single nanoparticle may not be able to stick to tumor cells once it locates them. However, scientists have developed a cocktail of nanoparticles, which can seek out tumor cells, stick onto them, where the combination with other drugs, is able to kill the cancer cell.
Made up of nanomaterials, the nanoparticle is made of gold nanorod "activities" that seep into a tumor through its leaky bloodvessels.Other nanomaterials are responder nanoparticles, either as iron oxide 'nanoworms' that light-up in an MRI scan, and a nanoparticle loaded with anti-cancer drug, doxonrubicin.
Dr. Michael Sailor, professor chemistry and biochemistry, UCSD., described the collaborative system of activator and responder nanomaterials as being like a search and destroy mission; one unit locates the target and the others eliminate the enemy.
The cocktail is designed to minimise collatural damage to the rest of the body, Dr. Sailor concluded. Geoff
Acknowledgment: medicalnewstoday.com