Tiny “bees” target tumors
Related: bees, Cancer, nano, nanotechnology, tumors
“Nanobees,” are not insects. They’re tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells by delivering a synthesized version of a toxin called melittin that is found in bees.
“Melittin, which would otherwise result in substantial destruction of your red blood cells and other normal tissues if it were delivered intravenously alone, is completely safe when it’s on a nanoparticle,” said Dr. Samuel Wickline, director of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
It’s another example of how nanotechnology may change the way diseases are treated. Nanobees are less than 10 times the diameter of a red blood cell and are small enough to enter cells, but big enough to carry large doses of drugs. That’s why they are so effective.
Nanobees are designed to travel directly to tumor cells without harming any others. This means more efficient delivery of large concentrations of drugs, but with fewer side effects. We can all get behind that.
Last Updated on August 19th, 2009
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