Health & Medicine
Cancer Treatment Update: Bubble Technology In Singapore Directs Drugs Directly Into Tumors' Core
Michael Finn
First Posted: Apr 20, 2016 05:30 AM EDT
The bubble technology is the new way of delivering the cancer drugs deep into the tumor cells. It has been invented by scientists at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
The technology, created by the NTU scientists, is made up of micro-sized gas bubbles that are coated with the iron oxide nanoparticles and cancer drug particles. Magnets are used to let the bubbles form around a particular tumor. An ultrasound is later used to vibrate these micro bubbles, which give the energy to direct the drug particles into the aimed area.
Developed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, the bubble technology was headed by Associate Prof Claus-Dieter Ohl of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Asst Prof Xu Chenjie of the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. It was tested successfully in mice.
The chief concern is that modern chemotherapy drugs are mostly non-targeted and that the particles of drugs flow into the bloodstream that brings damage to the cancerous and healthy cells. These drugs are usually flushed away immediately in organs like the liver and the lungs, hence limiting its effectiveness. The other remaining drugs are unable to go into the tumor's core as well, leaving some cancer cells to stay alive. With this process, the return of the tumor growth is highly probable, BioScience Technology reported.
According to Asst Prof. Xu, the microbubbles are magnetic. After being injected into the bloodstream, they are able to direct them around a specific tumor by using the magnets to make sure the healthy cells are not targeted, NDTV reported.
Bubble technology is the first of its kind which lets the drug particles be directed towards a specific tumor in just a few milliseconds. These bubbles can go into a depth of about 50 cell layers or more, or around 200 micrometers, two times the width of the human hair. With this new invention, the drugs are ensured to reach the targeted cancer cells on the surface, including inside the tumor's core.
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TagsBubble technology, Bubble technology cancer treatment, cancer treatment update, cancer treatment news, cancer treatment Bubble technology, cancer treatment study Bubble technology, Cancer, cancer news, cancer breakthrough ©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
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First Posted: Apr 20, 2016 05:30 AM EDT
The bubble technology is the new way of delivering the cancer drugs deep into the tumor cells. It has been invented by scientists at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
The technology, created by the NTU scientists, is made up of micro-sized gas bubbles that are coated with the iron oxide nanoparticles and cancer drug particles. Magnets are used to let the bubbles form around a particular tumor. An ultrasound is later used to vibrate these micro bubbles, which give the energy to direct the drug particles into the aimed area.
Developed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, the bubble technology was headed by Associate Prof Claus-Dieter Ohl of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Asst Prof Xu Chenjie of the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. It was tested successfully in mice.
The chief concern is that modern chemotherapy drugs are mostly non-targeted and that the particles of drugs flow into the bloodstream that brings damage to the cancerous and healthy cells. These drugs are usually flushed away immediately in organs like the liver and the lungs, hence limiting its effectiveness. The other remaining drugs are unable to go into the tumor's core as well, leaving some cancer cells to stay alive. With this process, the return of the tumor growth is highly probable, BioScience Technology reported.
According to Asst Prof. Xu, the microbubbles are magnetic. After being injected into the bloodstream, they are able to direct them around a specific tumor by using the magnets to make sure the healthy cells are not targeted, NDTV reported.
Bubble technology is the first of its kind which lets the drug particles be directed towards a specific tumor in just a few milliseconds. These bubbles can go into a depth of about 50 cell layers or more, or around 200 micrometers, two times the width of the human hair. With this new invention, the drugs are ensured to reach the targeted cancer cells on the surface, including inside the tumor's core.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone