Smart nanorobots zoom through the bloodstream, bypassing multiple biologic barriers, en route to deliver drugs to cancerous tumors. These drug-carrying vehicles could be an alternative to conventional techniques for administering chemotherapy.
Developed by scientists at Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal, and McGill Univ., the nanorobots consist of drug-loaded liposomes bonded to self-propelled bacteria. The drug-delivery bots can be guided by an external magnet into tumors, where they seek out low-oxygen regions to unload their cargo.
“Chemotherapy, which is so toxic for the entire human body, could make use of these natural nanorobots to move drugs directly to the targeted area, eliminating the harmful side effects while also boosting therapeutic effectiveness,” says Sylvain Martel, a professor of computer engineering and the Director of the NanoRobotics Laboratory at Polytechnique Montréal.
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
