Nanomedicinecenter.com

Diamonds in cancer treatment

Diamonds, valuable in many ways, have found their place in nanomedicine. Over the last few years, they have gained a flattering name – biomaterial of the 21st century! Diamond nanoparticles are under heavy research in numerous areas (prostheses, solar) and now it’s been shown that they could be useful in cancer treatment.

Nanodevices, made out of diamond nanoparticles, could be used for drug delivery to places where tumors have already been removed. „Our research has shown that nanodiamons can be easily embedded within nanodevices.“ says Dr. Ho, Assistant Professor at the Northwestern University.

„Our patch could be used to treat cancer leftovers in regions where the tumor cells were surgically removed.“ says Dr. Ho.

The research crew is now continuing their work to try to find out more areas where the patch could be applied.

Nanoparticles in cosmetics

A report (The Whitch) published today says that companies aren’t paying much attention to full testing of nanoparticles they use in their products. The report says that many nanoparticles which haven’t been tested are being used all the time in many cosmetic products, mainly in face creams and various moisturisers.

Nanoparticles can help in making the products better, but sometimes they behave in an unexpected way – and they can even become toxic.

The first concerns about nanoparticles’ safety was raised 4 years ago, and not much was done since then.

„Companies should open themselves and let us know how are they using nanotechnology in their products.“ says Sue Davies of The Which.

Some other products that contain nano* have been proven dangerous, such as carbon tubes which were used while developing tennis rackets and car panels.

Nanomedicine kills tumors by knocking out single genes

At the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, researchers have discovered that nanoparticles combined with two therapeutic molecules, when applied on human skin (a laboratory model) can ease and prevent it’s „dying“ of melanoma, the deadly skin cancer.

The nanoparticles are combined with siRNA molecules and they’re targeting two genes who are responsible for causing melanoma. They can destroy the damaged tissue and leave the healthy tissue intact.

„This method is very selective and targeted.“ says G. Robertson, PhD, who is the head of the researching crew at PSCM. „What really makes this method so special is that we can actually knock out single genes.“

The scientists suspect that siRNA turns off the two genes responsible for causing melanoma, and that way the disease can be treated more effectively.

Of course, delivering the siRNA to the cancer tissue is a complicated process. The skin has protective layers, but even if the drug passes them, the drug gets „destroyed“ by chemicals in the skin. To surpass this, PSCM scientists have developed nanoparticles based on lipids. That way they can pass through the skin without being degraded.