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Cancer cells pictured

Research into the application of nanobots in cancer treatment is an ongoing endeavour. At the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, scientists are exploring the idea of implanting individual cells with iron-based nanobots for tracking purposes. This approach aims to monitor cell movement and could be used to fight various forms of cancer, including carcinomas, adenomas, and melanomas.

Moreover, these nanorobots can be readily detected and monitored through MRI scans, offering doctors valuable insights into their functionality. Beyond tracking, the technology opens doors to the possibility of precisely delivering anticancer drugs to specific tissues or organs, representing a promising avenue in the fight against cancer.

A graphical depiction of neoplasm
A graphical depiction of neoplasm- An uncoordinated cell growth. Nanobots can locate specific tumours and administer drugs or destroy them

Aldo Martinez-Banderas, a graduate student, emphasized in a press statement that: “Cell labeling and tracking has become an invaluable tool for scientific and clinical applications” and that “One of the key aspects of cell tracking studies is the sensitivity to detect a small number of cells after implantation, so the strong magnetization and biocompatibility of our nanowires are advantageous characteristics for MRI tracking.”

Nanobots are employed successfully in identifying ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) cells through MRI readings, as revealed in the research published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. Notably, they have not yet been used to kill cells.

Lead researcher Jürgen Kosel explained, “These core-shell nanowires have various additional features, including the ability to control them magnetically to guide them to a particular location, to carry drugs, or to be heated with a laser.” Furthermore, he added, “Combining all of that with the capability of tracking creates a theranostic platform that can open the door for very promising new approaches in nanomedicine.”

Ultimately, the promise lies in the potential of nanobot biotechnology to selectively target and combat specific cells, offering a level of precision that could revolutionize cancer treatment.

Read more: New Study Links Touted Hydroxychloroquine To Higher Mortality

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