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March 3, 2008
Scientists Targeting Cancer With Nanomagnets Produced By Bacteria
Topics: Medical Science NewsIn what they describe as "Exciting Research," a team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a method of making bacteria-produced nanomagnets stronger, opening the way for their use in cancer treatment:
[...] The bacteria-produced magnets are better than man-made versions because of their uniform size and shape, the Nature Nanotechnology study reported.It is hoped one day the magnets could be guided to tumour sites and then activated to destroy cancerous cells.
The bacteria take up iron from their surroundings and turn it into a string of magnetic particles.
They use the chains of particles like a needle of a compass to orientate themselves and search for oxygen-rich environments.
[...] Scientists at Edinburgh University grew the bacteria in a mixture that contained more cobalt than iron.
The addition of cobalt in the nanomagnets made them 36-45% stronger.
This meant they stayed magnetised longer when taken out of a magnetic field.
... The ability of the nanomagnets to remain magnetised opens the way for their use in killing tumour cells, the researchers said.
Posted by Richard at March 3, 2008 2:23 PM
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