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Carbon Nanotubes Can Exist Safely Inside the Body, Help Treat Cancer

Posted by Soulskill on from the series-of-tubes dept.

iandoh writes "A team of scientists at Stanford University has tracked the movement of carbon nanotubes through the digestive systems of mice. They've determined that the nanotubes do not exhibit any toxicity in the mice, and are safely expelled after delivering their payload. As a result, the study paves the way toward future applications of nanotubes in the treatment of illnesses. Previous research by the same team demonstrated that nanotubes can be used to fight cancer. The nanotubes do this in two ways. One method involves shining laser light on the nanotubes, which generates heat to destroy cancer cells. Another method involves attaching medicine to the nanotubes, which are able to accurately 'find' cancerous cells without impacting healthy cells."

8 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. that's nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    have they got the space elevator working yet?

  2. *start super hero music* by Sylos · · Score: 2, Funny

    Faster than a pumping heart...stronger than graphite capable of delivering it's payload then leaving safely...it's CARBON NANO-TUBE MAN! With the power to...reflect lasers! and deliver medicine!

    --
    'Number-memorizing Chinese people.'-Anon
  3. It's about time by glittalogik · · Score: 2, Funny

    Finally, something useful getting delivered via the 'tubes!

  4. Dr. Weir by soulfury · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since carbon nanotubes don't exhibit any toxicity, I can imagine that future nanites would be made out of this material.

  5. Medical advances dont come from dump trucks.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ....they come from a series of tubes!

  6. Commie Plot by repapetilto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Though they may sound less than gorgeous visually, the feathery nanotubes turned in a beautiful performance in practical terms, Dai said. The coating of PEG made the nanotubes highly water soluble, which helped them to stay in the blood instead of being absorbed.
    I'd prefer to keep my precious bodily fluids pure and unsapped thank you very much.
  7. Excellent. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Queue whatcouldpossiblygowrong tag in 3... 2... 1...

  8. Too bad...... by edwardpickman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wouldn't they be more useful if they actually killed the mice? I hate messing with the traps.