Nanobot Technology That Eliminates Cancerous Growths: Spanish scientists have created a nano-robot that can eliminate up to 90% of cancerous tumors present in the bladder by entering the blood.
The diameter of this robot, developed in collaboration with the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia, the CIBER-BBN, the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IRB Barcelona), and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), is 450 nanometers, and its image has to be magnified by two hundred million times to be seen.
Bladder cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects men. Although the mortality rate is low, all tumors reappear within five years.
In a study conducted on mice, researchers found that these small robots can eliminate the need for multiple treatments that are performed for tumors. Surgery and chemotherapy are included in the current treatments for bladder cancer, which can cost more than $65,000.
Due to the decrease in tumor growth, the patient has to undergo multiple hospital visits. However, a new study claims that the Nano-robot can achieve this success in one go.
The surface of these robots used in the study was covered with golden nanoparticles, which allowed researchers to see how the robot passes through the blood and attacks the tumors. The team saw this nano-robot leave the blood of mice affected by bladder cancer and spread throughout the body. The robot works by acting on the urea present in the patient's urine and moving the robot by acting on the tumor of the cancerous iodine.
The team saw that this Nano-bot increases the pH balance of the place near the tumor, which breaks the extracellular matrix of the tumor. Due to the sponge-like nature of the tumor, the robot is attracted to it and treats the cancerous iodine with a therapeutic iodine.