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Exercitation One application of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involves
employing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific types of cells (such
as cancer cells). Particles are engineered so that they are attracted to diseased cells, which allows
direct treatment of those cells. This technique reduces damage to healthy cells in the body and allows
for earlier detection of disease.
For example, nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells are under
development. Tests are in progress for targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs and their final approval
for their use with cancer patients is pending.
Another technique delivers chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells and also applies heat to the cell.
Researchers are using gold nanorods to which DNA strands are attached. The DNA strands act as
a scaffold, holding together the nanorod and the chemotherapy drug. When Infrared light
illuminates the cancer tumor the gold nanorod absorbs the infrared light, turning it into heat. The
heat both releases the chemotherapy drug and helps destroy the cancer cells.
Reserchers are developing a method to release insulin that uses a sponge-like matrix that contains
insulin as well as nanocapsules containing an enzyme. When the glucose level rises the
nanocapsules release hydrogen ions, which bind to the fibers making up the matrix. The hydrogen
ions make the fibers positively charged, repelling each other and creating openings in the matrix
through which insulin is released.
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