Nanorobots are potentially harmful to cancer cells

In South Korea scientists say they have developed the world's first nanorobot that
can target cancer cells selectively without side effects such as chemotherapy.

As has been reported the side effects of chemotherapy (method most used for the
treatment of cancer), since this method can be devastating for the patient's health,
because its cytotoxic effect is not limited to cancer cells, it targets all the cells in the
body that are in rapid cell división, including both cancer cells and normal cells
usually found in hair follicles, the bone marrow and the cells lining the
gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to a research team led by Jong Oh Park, director of
Robot Research Iniatiative, has created nanorobots capable of selectively killing
cancer cells, considerably reducing the effects of the treatment, this method
reduces the damage to healthy tissue caused by chemotherapy, since the
nanorobots transport the necessary medication to fight the tumor.

The effectiveness of this technology has been demonstrated in both in vitro studies
and in mice. The researchers trust that the studies will continue in humans.

The innovative technology are robots with very small circuits, in nanometer scales,
perfect for the medical community, because of the size it allows to study the whole
organism and thus be able to give a treatment in the affected areas with greater
precision. for the creation of these robots, they were inserted into bacteria of the
Salmonella genus genetically modified to be attracted by chemicals (mechanism
called chemotaxis) produced by cancer cells, as the vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF). These microscopic robots, which measure 3 μm in size, can contain
capsules with anti-cancer drugs.

The bateriorobots move through the bloodstream attracted to the cancerous focus
and, once reached, the capsules of the nanorobots release their anticancer drugs
directly on the tumor, spreading through it at a rate of 5 microns per second.

The mechanism of action of the anticancer agent depends on the specific type of
drug and the dose administered and involves a cellular alteration, either through
intervention in cell division or protein synthesis, the end result is the destruction of
cancer cells.

One of the current weaknesses of these bacteriobots is that their ability to detect
tumor cells is limited to breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Over time, it is
estimated to be wider in the variety of tumors.
The nanorobot has worked successfully on mice, and the team is confident that it
will also work on humans. Researchers have already patented the new system in
Japan, the United States and Europe.

Webgraphy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC8W7I7qlZs&feature=youtu.be

http://biologiainteresante.com/biomedicina/105/crean-nanorobots-capaces-de-
combatir-las-celulas-cancerigenas/

http://oncobservador.blogspot.com.co/2014/01/microrobots-un-nuevo-agente-
contra-el.html?m=1