DNA-built nano-structures safely target, image cancer tumors

The University of Toronto and their team of researchers have discovered a new method of building blocks, like LEGOs, that help deliver cancer medications into tumors. Professor at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Warren Chan says that in order to get the medications into a tumor they need to be a certain size. The goal of the scientists at the Institute and also the Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research is to get small enough particles into the holes of the tumor and then have them stay long enough for the medication to treat the cancer.

Chan and his team solved this by creating
modular structures "glued" together with DNA. They use a model to fabricate materials and sort them into precise structures, like putting LEGOs together. The pro of this is being able to "swap" things in and out, making it very easy to create systems of medication with many different functions.

Even though this was something to celebrate, the long-term risk of these "building blocks" has been a major challenge for the scientists. If you've had many of these cancer medication injections they are likely to cause problems later on in life. By using DNA in this experiment, scientists found that a body's enzymes will cause the DNA to break down, resulting in the destruction of whats left behind of the cancer-killing medication. Chan says that there is much left to be done, but this new breakthrough is bringing medicine in the world one step closer to stopping cancer.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140127164807.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+(Latest+Science+News+--+ScienceDaily)

NOS Themes:

• Science is collaborative
• Science is based on evidence
• Importance of repeatability
• Role of motivation and curiosity