Cancer Cell 'Terminator': Photo-Activated Nanomachine
4/11/2008 Ongoing research at the Nano Machine Center of the
California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA has produced what may be the first functional nanomachine of its kind, capable of precisely regulated, photo-activated delivery of anticancer drugs on an intracellular level.
This molecular-scale assassin, known as the "nanoimpeller," stores its therapeutic load within tiny pores, through which the drugs escape when exposed to light. Drug release can be manipulated remotely and is tightly controlled by varying intensity, wavelength, and duration of light exposure.
This device has already performed well
in vitro when introduced into differing human cancer cell lines (ie, colon and pancreatic sources). By oscillating between dual conformations, a coating of azobenzene is the chemical mediator of photoactivity that drives its successful operation.
The developers must now show proof of actual tumor inhibition/regression in order to proclaim their discovery a next-generation treatment platform.
Source
UCLA press release:
UCLA researchers design nanomachine that kills cancer cells
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