Technology

Magnetically treated nanoparticles help tumor cells 'self-destruct'

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An international team of scientists have designed a new method for magnetically controlling nanoparticles that make cells 'self-destruct'. The team's method involves rotating the nanoparticles above the cells and 'wiggling' the particles inside the cell lysosomes, which break down biomolecules. The method should one day result in non-invasive human cancer treatment which targets cancerous cells and leaves healthy cells unharmed, a vast improvement on current treatment methods like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Jim Drury reports.