Major Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment: Thinner Needle Created to Extract Cells
Scientists have created a needle 500 times thinner than human hair that could pave the way for new cancer treatments.
Breakthrough Research at the University of Leeds
Researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK have utilized a finely crafted and extremely novel needle called "Nino Pipette" to observe how cancer cells react to treatment and how they change during the process.
The current techniques used to study individual cells often destroy them, making it difficult for researchers to study the cells before or after treatment. However, this device developed by researchers at Leeds University can perform vital biopsies during cancer treatment, allowing for the extraction of small samples from living cells without killing them.
This capability provides scientists with the opportunity to observe cell reactions over time during treatment.
The needle contains two extremely thin wires that can enter cancer cells simultaneously and extract a sample without killing the cell.
Researchers particularly focused on studying glioblastoma (GBM) treatment, a lethal form of brain cancer.
To carry out this process, researchers utilized the Nano Surgical Platform of Leeds University since it was nearly impossible to handle manually due to its delicate nature.
With the help of this device, scientists continued to take samples of cells at regular intervals and studied the quality of disease in individual cells.