Microspheres: Novel Drug Carriers for Developing Cancer Therapies

Researchers at MIT have created microbeads (approximately 200nm in diameter) that can carry potential cancer treatments. The beads are made of a spongy material and are filled with small strands of siRNA before being injected into the bloodstream. The beads will supposedly cross the membrane of a developing tumor and enter the cancer cells. The siRNA inside binds to the native mRNA and disrupts the reproduction cycle that causes the tumor to grow.

Treatment via siRNA has been a concept for a while, but it has been a challenge trying to find a way to deliver them to the tumor. Unprotected siRNA quickly fell apart and never reached the tumor. These sponges protect the siRNA until they reach their destination.

There is potential for these microsponges to be used as transport for a variety of different treatments.

Source: http://www.biomedicalblog.com/microspheres-novel-drug-carriers-for-developing-cancer-therapies/172100/