The Journal of Nature published results of a study yesterday that showed nanoparticles can be used to deliver targeted gene therapy that prevents cancer growth.
A team at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena used nanotechnology — the science of really small objects — to create tiny polymer robots covered with a protein called transferrin that seek out a receptor or molecular doorway on many different types of tumors.
[...] In a phase 1 clinical trial in patients with various types of tumors, the team gave doses of the targeted nanoparticles four times over 21 days in a 30-minute intravenous infusion.
Tumor samples taken from three people with melanoma showed the nanoparticles found their way inside tumor cells.
And they found evidence that the therapy had disabled ribonucleotide reductase, suggesting the RNA had done its job.
Davis could not say whether the therapy helped shrink tumors in the patients, but one patient did get a second cycle of treatment, suggesting it might be. Nor could he say if there were any safety concerns.
The Reuters article refers to these particles as “nanotech robots” which I’m not sure is entirely accurate, but it’s still a novel and exciting method of delivering treatment.