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Researchers have shared an unprecedented Developments in cancer treatment research With new technology that can selectively target cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissues.
A team from RMIT University in Melbourne say extremely small metal particles – which they call ‘nanodots’ – may be able to detect and destroying cancer cells in humansOpening new possibilities for targeted therapies.
The research is still in its early stages, so far it is being tested only on lab-grown cells, not on animals or humans. However, the findings point to an effective new strategy that exploits Existing weaknesses in cancer cells.
Dr Baoyu Zhang, from RMIT’s School of Engineering, explains: “Cancer cells are already under more stress than healthy cells.”
“Our particles apply that stress a little further – enough to trigger self-destruction in cancer cells, while healthy cells cope just fine.”
The nanodots are engineered from molybdenum oxide, a compound derived from molybdenum, a rare metal widely used in electronics and industrial applications.
Dr. Zhang says subtle changes in the chemical structure of the metal cause it to release reactive oxygen molecules. These unstable oxygen forms are known to damage vital cellular components, ultimately leading to cell death.
many existing cancer The treatments damage the tumor as well as healthy tissue, which means its ability to grow. Tension This could pave the way for more targeted and less harmful treatments within cancer cells.
Nanodots are also prepared from widely available metal oxides rather than expensive or toxic metals such as gold or silver and therefore have the potential for more economical and safe manufacturing.
In laboratory experiments, the nanodots demonstrated significant selectivity, eliminating cervical cancer cells at three times the rate seen in healthy cells over a 24-hour period.
The researchers were able to achieve this effect by adjusting the composition of the metal, introducing small amounts of hydrogen and ammonium. This fine-tuning causes the particles to generate elevated levels of oxygen molecules, which then causes the cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, which is the body’s natural mechanism for eliminating damaged cells.
Australian based Research The team says it is continuously moving forward technologyThe next phase of work focuses on ensuring that the nanodots become even more targeted, active only inside the tumor and never affecting healthy tissues, Researchers are also trying to begin testing the particles in animals and establish scalable manufacturing methods,