Nano-scale method for cancer detection, treatment

Of the many cancer treatments out there today, very few have the ability to distinguish between healthy cells and cancerous cells. Chemotherapy does not stay (effective) in the body long enough, and both chemotherapy and radiation therapy kill cells indiscriminately. But now, a chemist named Michael J. Sailor has developed a new method. Sailor put together strings of iron-oxide particles that swim through your blood like a nanoworm to seek out and kill emerging cancerous tumors.

In preliminary rodent studies, the results showed that these nanoworms congregate in and around cancerous tumors. This is a critical step for administering treatment delivery. Normally, the body's immune system would eliminate any foreign nanoparticles, however, studies have shown that longer molecules such as viruses, and these nanoworms, can evade the body's defenses long enough to perform their intended function. As such, the nanoworms can be coated with cancer-specific binding proteins and equipped with effective chemotherapy drugs. Once they have found their target, they release the payload of drugs. In addition, any unbound iron-oxide will simply be excreted naturally by the body.

For humans, the first test of these nanoworms would be cancer detection. As it so happens, a tumor that has these worms latched to it shows up clearly in an MRI scan. Sailor intends to being human trials by 2010. The following is an example of the steps that could be taken to rid the body of cancerous tumors.

Step 1: A physician injects the nanoworms into a vein and time is alotted for circulation.

Step 2: Cancer-specific proteins on the nanoworms attach to the tumor at multiple points.

Step 3: MRI is done to show location of the tumor

Step 4: Medication, through heat, enzymes, or time-release mechanisms, is administered

Although this may only be a precursor to a more effective method of cancer treatment or detection, the use of nanoparticles will surely be a critical characteristic in modern cancer research.