Nanostars Kill Cancer Without Ever Penetrating a Cell
Like shurikens, but for killing cancer. Nanotechnology is the talk of future healthcare, but as far as we know, we've not seen many useful applications. Up until now. These nano scale gold stars can kill cancer cells dead without having to enter them.
How do they that? The nanostars are coated in drug molecules which are attracted to a protein that all cancer cells produce in unusual quantities. The points attach to the wall of a cancerous cell and when blasted with light the tiny points of contact offer up massive concentration of the drug which pours into the cells and kills it.
Teri W. Odom, one of the scientists, explains to PhysOrg:
"Our drug-loaded gold nanostars are tiny hitchhikers. They are attracted to a protein on the cancer cell's surface that conveniently shuttles the nanostars to the cell's nucleus. Then, on the nucleus' doorstep, the nanostars release the drug, which continues into the nucleus to do its work."
[ACS Nano via PhysOrg]
Image by Jason Hafner/Rice University
