"Bacteriobot": a homing bacterium with an anti-cancer nanohead
South Korean scientists have created the world's first nanorobots to fight cancer
DailyTechInfo by Yonhap News Agency: S. Korea develops world's first cancer-treating nanorobotA group of scientists from the National University of Chonnam (Chonnam National University), South Korea, has developed the world's first functioning nanorobots capable of independently detecting malignant cancer cells and introducing the appropriate drug into the environment.
The role of these nanorobots is played by genetically modified bacteria of a certain type (Salmonella typhimurium – a stick of mouse typhus, in an unmodified form causing food poisoning in humans - VM), capable of detecting even the weakest concentrations of certain chemical compounds and proteins, which are produced in large quantities only in the presence of cancer cells.
When a bacterium detects the presence of the aforementioned proteins in the environment, it uses some mechanisms to activate the second part of the nanorobot, an automated nanodevice, only 3 micrometers in size, which automatically sprays the appropriate drug that acts directly on the diseased cell.
"The methodology developed by scientists of our leading institution for the treatment of oncological diseases allows us to overcome all the limitations of existing methods of cancer diagnosis. Our nanorobots are able not only to detect the incipient disease in its very initial stage, but also to effectively suppress its development at a time when the disease is still treatable," the South Korean Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technologies and Future Planning, which partially funded the research, said in a press release. there is a nanorobot in the world that can effectively treat diseases."
Laboratory tests have shown that in the form in which these nanorobots exist today, they can diagnose and fight only solid ("solid") forms of cancer, such as breast or rectal cancer. But the developers claim that their further research will make it possible in the very near future to develop next-generation nanorobots that will be able to detect other forms of cancer, and even at earlier stages of their appearance.
The new technology and design of nanorobots, which are called "Bacteriobot", have already been patented in dozens of countries, including Japan, the United States and all countries that are members of the European Union.
Article by Park et al. Motility analysis of bacteria-based microrobot (bacteriobot) using chemical gradient microchamber
published in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering – VM.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru23.12.2013