Scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a technique that uses tiny gas bubbles and ultrasound vibrations to deliver cancer drugs directly to cancer cells, effectively treating the tumor while sparing normal healthy cells.
The research, led by university professor Xu Chenjie, also uses iron oxide nanoparticles and magnets to help the microbubbles coalesce around cancerous cells.
“The first unique characteristic of our microbubbles is that they are magnetic,” Xu said in a university press release. “After injecting them into the bloodstream, we are able to gather them around the tumour using magnets and ensure that they don't kill the healthy cells."
The microbubble method was successfully tested on mice in a recent study, with the results recently published in the journal Asia Materials.
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