Posted on 12/03/2007 1:54:31 PM PST by Red Badger
Cancer cells treated with carbon nanotubes can be destroyed by noninvasive radio waves that heat up the nanotubes while sparing untreated tissue, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University has shown in preclinical experiments.
In a paper published in the journal Cancer, the researchers demonstrated that the technique completely destroyed liver cancer tumors in rabbits. There were no side effects noted. However, some healthy liver tissue within 2 to 5 millimeters of the tumors sustained heat damage due to nanotube leakage from the tumor.
"These are promising, even exciting, preclinical results in this liver cancer model," said lead investigator Steven Curley, M.D., of M.D. Anderson. "Our next step is to look at ways to more precisely target the nanotubes so they attach to, and are taken up by, cancer cells while avoiding normal tissue."
Curley conducted the research in collaboration with nanotechnology experts at Rice University and with Erie, Pennsylvania, entrepreneur John Kanzius of ThermMed LLC, who invented the experimental radiofrequency generator used in the experiments. Kanzius is a cancer survivor and former radio station owner whose insights into the potential of targeted radio waves inspired this line of research. At Rice, the work was begun by Nobel laureate Richard Smalley several months before his death from cancer in October 2005.
In the liver cancer experiment, a solution of single-walled carbon nanotubes was injected directly into the tumors. Four treated rabbits were then exposed to 2 minutes of radiofrequency treatment, resulting in thermal destruction of their tumors. Control group tumors that were treated only by radiofrequency exposure or only by nanotubes were undamaged. In lab experiments, two lines of liver cancer cells and one pancreatic cancer cell line were destroyed after being incubated with nanotubes and exposed to the radiofrequency field.
Curley stated that radiofrequency energy fields penetrate deeply into tissue, so it would be possible to deliver heat anywhere in the body if targeted nanotubes or other nanoparticles can be delivered to cancerous cells. Without such a target, radio waves will pass harmlessly through the body.
An invasive technique known as radiofrequency ablation is used to treat some malignant tumors, the authors note. It requires insertion of needle electrodes directly into the tumors. Incomplete tumor destruction occurs in 5 to 40 percent of cases; normal tissue is damaged, and complications arise in 10 percent of patients who suffer such damage. Radiofrequency ablation is limited to liver, kidney, breast, lung, and bone cancers.
This work is detailed in the paper “Carbon nanotube-enhanced thermal destruction of cancer cells in a noninvasive radiofrequency field.” Investigators from Rice University, ThermMed LLC, and the National Center for Scientific Research in Bordeaux, France, also participated in this study. This paper was published online in advance of print publication. An abstract of this paper is available through PubMed.
Source: National Cancer Institute
We have constructed a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver from a single carbon nanotube. The nanotube serves simultaneously as all essential components of a radio: antenna, tunable band-pass filter, amplifier, and demodulator. A direct current voltage source, as supplied by a battery, powers the radio. Using carrier waves in the commercially relevant 40-400 MHz range and both frequency and amplitude modulation techniques, we demonstrate successful music and voice reception.
It’s like dropping a smart bomb vs just atom bombing the whole area. I likes it.
Thanks for the article. My son is currently being treated with chemotherapy for lymphoma cancer, and any news concerning a potential cure for cancer is very interesting to me.
But how long do they stay in your system? And would further exposure to radio waves if they happened to be the right frequency - could they damge you?
We stand on the threshold of an exciting time in science and medicine. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
ping
“But how long do they stay in your system? And would further exposure to radio waves if they happened to be the right frequency - could they damge you?”
Excellent question. Let me suggest, it depends on the nanoparticles, some of which are taken into cells, both normal and abnormal cells, and they don’t ever leave. The smaller nanoparticles (< 5 nm) generally are excreted in urine while the larger ones (20-100 nm) stay put once they are taken into cells—most end up in cell lysosomes where they remain, at least for months, if not years.
Things have a “resonant frequency” depending on their size. The nanotubes have a resonant frequency that is different than surrounding tissue. When RF energy of the “right” frequency hits the nanotubes, they will vibrate and thus produce heat in themselves and transmit this heat energy to the surrounding tissue (cancer cells). This way, only the immediate contacted cells are affected. The others (good cells) are essentially transparent to the energy. As one poster put it, it’s like a laser guided bomb rather than a carpet bomb technique.........
Very cool. Sounds so simple, which is usually the best approach.
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Posted on 11/15/2007 3:43:17 AM PST by Kevmo
Excuse me professor! I have a question. This new procedure is a wonderful breakthrough. I am certain that thousands...millions will benefit. However, what causes the cancer in the first place?
My sister-in-law began her treatments for lymphoma about a year ago. She is now cancer free and even has hair on her head. She was also very fortunate to have tolerated the treatment very well.
Good luck to you and your son.
BUMP to consider if my lab work comes back bad!
Sin...............
I’ll drink to that!
I've read reports of this research before and my question still remains;
Tumors are one thing but what is it that causes the nanotubes to seek out cancer cells?
The most common thing is genetic mutation caused by ambient or natural, background radiation.
I pray that your cancer is cured and no more chemo or radiation will be needed.
My son has had 7 chemo treatments at 3 week intervals and has one more to go. That's if a PET scan after the last treatment shows no cancer cells in the lymph gland that was affected. He has tolerated the chemo better than we expected so far. It always leaves him feeling bad for a few days after the treatments, and of course all of his hair and eyelashes are gone, but no serious side affects so far.
The oncologist hasn't decided yet whether to follow up the chemo with radiation, so we aren't out of the woods yet. Thank God the tumor was caught early before it spread beyond the one gland.
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