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MIT Injects Nanotubes To Help Fight Cancer

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the now-i-want-a-shrink-ray dept.

CWmike writes to tell us that researchers at MIT have found a way to wrap nanotube sensors in DNA to detect the results of chemotherapy. The sensors are able to detect whether the drugs are attacking their targets or healthy cells. "Cancer researchers have long been trying to figure out a way to better deliver drugs to cancer cells without blasting surrounding cells as well. The Stanford researchers devised a way to use single-walled carbon nanotubes as targeted medicinal delivery vehicles. By better targeting the chemotherapy, less of the drug needs to be injected into the patient for cancer treatment. And that would reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatment, such as nausea, hair loss, weight loss and fatigue."

4 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Umm. by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Didn't Carbon Nanotube been found to cause cancer?

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    1. Re:Umm. by sdpuppy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      All depends on how things are applied. If you inhale water, you can die.

      If you eat Potassium Chloride, you get nutrition. If you inject it, you die.

      If you eat Lead Acetate, you hurt your nervous system. If you apply it to your hair, you "comb away the gray"

      If you eat Tallium Acetate, you get poisoned, if you wipe on your skin, you get rid of the stubble.

      Oh yeah, and it depends on form: You eat Sodium your mouth catches fire, you eat sodium chloride and you get hypertension.

  2. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What's your point? We're all going to die someday. Should we just give up?

  3. Re:I'm not holding my breath... by bwcarty · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you get a cancer that you can and do survive, you'll probably have lifelong health problems as a result, as much from the treatment as the cancer itself, and you won't ever really be completely cured.

    As a cancer survivor going on five years now, I wouldn't necessarily say others should expect health problems as the result of their treatment. The chemo I went through was cardiotoxic, but if you're smart and dedicated, you can mitigate the risk for long term problems.

    I've become a fairly avid runner in the past few years as a way of keeping my heart strong. The last time I went in for a checkup, my bp was a very good 112/67, and I have better cardio conditioning than ever. I'll need it since I'm going to be running a marathon in a little over 3 months.

    That said, here's my plug for charitiable donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Every bit helps! Chemo and radiation suck; help fund the research towards curing blood cancers! :)