Injection of Gold Nanoparticles may open new way to treat tumors and Cancer

“Nanoembolization” is a procedure that loads tiny gold nanoparticles with a cancer killing agent. These nanoparticles, constructed by northwester researchers, measure 13 nanomenters in diameter. This technique allows researchers to inject the cancer killing agent directly into the tumor. By doing this, the nanoparticles are more than fifty times more concentrated within the tumor than traditional treatments.
This new finding can cause huge improvement in the most deadly types of cancers, such as pancreatic. Specifically with pancreatic cancer, there are difficulties with getting the treatment to the area of the cancer. Scar tissue tends to build up and block the cancer-killing drugs from reaching the tumor preventing it from being of any use. Using the nanoparticles instead of traditional treatments allows the physician to insert the particles and drug through a catheter directly to the tumor. (The catheter is placed into an artery usually near the groin and navigated through blood vessels toward the site.) On top of this method having the potential to be more successful, it does not require surgery.
This method is both noninvasive, and prevents the scar tissue build-up from becoming too much of an issue. The cancer killing drug is able to end up where it is ended to. I found this article interesting because we learned some about gold nanoparticles and it shows the diverse range of expertise it takes to create new finds in medicine. Cancer is a disease that effects numerous people, and this new method of drug delivery could be effective for the most deadly types of cancer. This has the potential to save money, hassle, and lives.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/going-for-gold-with-a-novel-interventional-radiology-treatment-for-pancreatic-cancer-87781397.html

Erica Williams
VTPP 43-502