Bacteria Ferry Nanoparticles Into Cells For Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Common bacteria has recently been found able to deliver “smart nanoparticles” into a cell to precisely positioned censors, drugs, or DNA for the early finding or treating of a disease. This was found in a research study done by researchers at Purdue University. The harmless bacteria are used as a sort of transport vehicle because of their ability to penetrate cell membranes and nuclei. Once inside the cell, the nanoparticles could be used for detection of things such as tumors, or also treatments such as gene therapy. One thing about this new approach that is different from previous ones is that the bacteria can carry larger structures or even hundreds of nanoparticles into the cell. This could now open up a world of opportunities for scientists who have struggled with ways to get medicine directly into specific cells. With this discovery researchers are well on their way to coming up with a cure for cancer and many other various diseases that occur at the cellular level.