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Nanoprobes Hunt Down Cancer CellsNanoprobes Hunt Down Cancer Cells
A Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) researcher has created magnetic nanoscopic probes that can locate tumors and attach to cancer cells. This would not only help doctors find tumors, but it could also aid them in better treatment of the cancer. The probes, which have antibodies, have the potential to carry drugs to treat cancerous cells. Developed by Joseph Irudayaraj, the probes use both gold nanorods and magnetic particles so that they can be more easily tracked via imaging devices during their trek to cancer cells.
March 17, 2009
1 Min Read
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A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine can follow the magnetic particles, even as they go deeper into tissue, and microscopy can be used to track the gold nanorods. The Herceptin-loaded probes would be injected into the body through a saline buffering fluid. They're able to bind to a cancer cell that expresses a protein marker that is complementary to Herceptin, according to Irudayaraj. He says the researchers are working on improving the technology in order to add other drugs that the probes deliver.
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