Nanoparticles studied for cancer therapy

National Institute of Standards and Technology scientists, in cooperation with Johns Hopkins University, Dartmouth College, the University of Manitoba and two biopharmaceutical companies, found the particles -- sugar-coated bits of iron oxide about 100 nanometers wide -- are potent cancer killers because they interact with one another in ways that smaller nanoparticles do not.

The interactions, thought by many bioengineers to be undesirable, actually help the larger particles heat up better when subjected to an alternating magnetic field, researchers said. Since heat destroys cancer cells, the team's findings may help engineers design better particles and treatment methods.

"Nanoparticles hold the promise of battling cancer without the damaging side
effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment," the scientists said, explaining minuscule balls of iron oxide can be coated with sugar molecules making them particularly attractive to resource-hungry cancer cells.

Once the particles are injected, cancer cells would then ingest them and doctors would then be able to apply an alternating magnetic field that causes the iron oxide centers to heat, killing the cancer, but leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.

The study is reported in the journal Nanotechnology.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.