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Researchers have come up with a groundbreaking method to starve cancerous tumors by blocking their blood flow, leading to their eventual shrinkage and destruction. As reported by Business Insider, this treatment is inspired by origami, allowing the robots to navigate vital blood vessels without affecting other parts of the body.
A group of molecular chemists from Arizona State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences detailed their technique in the journal Nature Biotechnology. They first created robots from DNA strands that are 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. These microscopic devices are equipped with thrombin, an enzyme that promotes blood clotting, securely stored inside until needed.
The researchers then injected these robots into the circulatory systems of mice and small pigs suffering from various types of cancer. The DNA-guided robots targeted only the tumors, sparing healthy cells. Upon reaching the tumor, the robots unfurled and released thrombin into the blood vessels supplying it. This led to the formation of a clot, cutting off the tumor's blood supply and causing the cancerous tissue to die off.
The treatment has been trialed on several animals with cancers including breast, lung, skin, and ovarian types. In mice, their average lifespan was doubled, and in three skin cancer cases, the tumors completely shrank away.
Scientists are optimistic about the therapy's potential to combat cancers across the body. The blood vessels feeding tumors don't differ much, whether they are in the ovary or the prostate. Therefore, if causing a blood clot leads to one tumor's demise, the approach holds promise for other cancers as well.
However, before the scientists can progress further, they need to test this treatment on human patients. Nanobots have long been a promising option for cancer treatment. If they work, these tiny machines can target cancer at the cellular level without harming healthy cells. But if something goes wrong, the bots might attack healthy tissue and make the patient worse. Study co-author Hao Yan believes this new method could be the breakthrough that succeeds. He said in a statement, "I think we are much closer to real, practical medical applications of the technology."
