Scientists believe they have found a way to block the supply of nutrients to cancer tumors.
Researchers mimicked the action of blood cells known as platelets by creating tiny nanoparticles to create clots to stop blood getting to tumours.
The particles may also be able to deliver chemotherapy drugs to the area, the California University team said.
The researchers used the nanoparticles to zero in on the network of blood vessels that supply the tumours in mice with nutrients and oxygen.
To test the particles' homing ability, the researchers injected the nanoparticles into mice and found that the particles bound only to tumour vessels.
Upon binding, the particles induced selective blood clotting that attracted more nanoparticles, reminiscent of platelet and clotting action.
The tests showed that within hours of the injection, the artificial platelets began blocking the supply without harming normal tissues.
The scientists believe the nanoparticles could also be used to carry drugs to the tumour.
This sounds like some very promising technology for fighting cancer. Let's hope and pray this is borne out and able to be successfully used to treat cancer in human patients. The impact treatments like this could make are astronomical!
(HT Instapundit)
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