Ultra-tiny 'bees' target tumors
In the fight against cancer, new delivery systems for the latest treatments are being explored; one of the latest of which is “nanobees.” Not of the insect world, nanobees are actually tiny particles, less than ten times the diameter of a red blood cell, which carry treatment against cancer cells. These particular nanoparticles carry a synthesized version of the toxin known as melittin which is found in bees, hence the name nanobees.
"Melittin, which would otherwise result in substantial destruction of your red blood cells and other normal tissues if it were delivered intravenously alone, is completely safe when it's on a nanoparticle," said Dr. Samuel Wickline, director of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Unlike previously approved cancer treatments, nanobees are engineered to travel directly to the tumor cells. Blood vessels surrounding the tumor produce a particular protein for which the nanobees have a chemical affinity. Such a delivery system allows for efficient delivery of a large dose of treatment without as many side effects.
To help ensure these tiny particles make it to the targeted cells, they are coated with polyethylene glycol to keep white blood cells, called macrophages, from “eating” them. Nanobees are only one of the latest innovations of nano-sized engineering in the medical field. And although a lot of new research is ongoing with nanotechnology, the particles themselves are not new but their limits of application are unknown.
I find this article of interest because it pursues a different view of the fight against cancer. I have had to watch three people go through chemotherapy and I hope to never have to watch it again. Usually it seems as though if you always hear of a new drug which kills the cancer and hopefully harms less of the healthy cells. But with this technology, healthy cells do not come in contact with the drug used to fight the cancer cells. Plus it’s just cool that scientist can manipulate something that small.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/18/nanotech.cancer.nano.tumors/
"Melittin, which would otherwise result in substantial destruction of your red blood cells and other normal tissues if it were delivered intravenously alone, is completely safe when it's on a nanoparticle," said Dr. Samuel Wickline, director of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Unlike previously approved cancer treatments, nanobees are engineered to travel directly to the tumor cells. Blood vessels surrounding the tumor produce a particular protein for which the nanobees have a chemical affinity. Such a delivery system allows for efficient delivery of a large dose of treatment without as many side effects.
To help ensure these tiny particles make it to the targeted cells, they are coated with polyethylene glycol to keep white blood cells, called macrophages, from “eating” them. Nanobees are only one of the latest innovations of nano-sized engineering in the medical field. And although a lot of new research is ongoing with nanotechnology, the particles themselves are not new but their limits of application are unknown.
I find this article of interest because it pursues a different view of the fight against cancer. I have had to watch three people go through chemotherapy and I hope to never have to watch it again. Usually it seems as though if you always hear of a new drug which kills the cancer and hopefully harms less of the healthy cells. But with this technology, healthy cells do not come in contact with the drug used to fight the cancer cells. Plus it’s just cool that scientist can manipulate something that small.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/18/nanotech.cancer.nano.tumors/
posted by Derek Phillips at 6:24 AM
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