University of Idaho research zaps cancer with gold-coated nanowires
by IBR Staff
December 22, 2008
An international group of researchers at the University of Idaho is developing a new cancer-fighting technology that could mean the end of painful radioactive and chemical treatments.
The team – led by U of I associate professor of materials science and engineering Daniel Choi, and supported by a $425,000 grant from the South Korean government – is engineering gold-coated nanowires that can “swim” through the bloodstream, seek out cancerous cells and zap them with heat generated by a low frequency electromagnetic field.
“Cancer is a dangerous enemy because radiation and chemical treatments cause a lot of side effects,” Choi said. “We can’t avoid side effects 100 percent, but these nanowires will minimize the damage to healthy cells.”
Choi is also working with another group of U of I researchers to identify antibodies with which to coat the nanowires, enabling them to seek out and attach to specific types of cancer cells. Called BANTech, that group is an interdisciplinary team integrating nanomaterials research with cell biology and bioscience research.
Though still in the early research phase, the basic concept of the technology has been proven in lab tests, university officials said. With more lab work, full scale testing will get under way on live animals, and eventually humans. At that point, Seoul National University, Korea University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology will take the lead on the project. Grant monies supporting the research come from the International Global Collaboration Pioneer Program.
“Collaborating with Korean institutions has been a wonderful experience full of mutual benefits and great achievements,” said Choi. “Multi-institutional, multi-national projects can provide students and researchers with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge investigations within an international research environment, which is very important to advancing science.”
by IBR Staff
December 22, 2008
An international group of researchers at the University of Idaho is developing a new cancer-fighting technology that could mean the end of painful radioactive and chemical treatments.
The team – led by U of I associate professor of materials science and engineering Daniel Choi, and supported by a $425,000 grant from the South Korean government – is engineering gold-coated nanowires that can “swim” through the bloodstream, seek out cancerous cells and zap them with heat generated by a low frequency electromagnetic field.
“Cancer is a dangerous enemy because radiation and chemical treatments cause a lot of side effects,” Choi said. “We can’t avoid side effects 100 percent, but these nanowires will minimize the damage to healthy cells.”
Choi is also working with another group of U of I researchers to identify antibodies with which to coat the nanowires, enabling them to seek out and attach to specific types of cancer cells. Called BANTech, that group is an interdisciplinary team integrating nanomaterials research with cell biology and bioscience research.
Though still in the early research phase, the basic concept of the technology has been proven in lab tests, university officials said. With more lab work, full scale testing will get under way on live animals, and eventually humans. At that point, Seoul National University, Korea University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology will take the lead on the project. Grant monies supporting the research come from the International Global Collaboration Pioneer Program.
“Collaborating with Korean institutions has been a wonderful experience full of mutual benefits and great achievements,” said Choi. “Multi-institutional, multi-national projects can provide students and researchers with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge investigations within an international research environment, which is very important to advancing science.”
