A Revolutionary Way to Deliver Cancer Drugs
Getting drugs directly to tumors is a major challenge in medicine. Blood vessel walls act as barriers, preventing drugs from reaching cancer cells effectively. Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed an innovative approach: using magnetic bacteria to guide drugs straight to the tumor site, reducing side effects and increasing treatment precision.
How It Works
Traditional drug delivery methods struggle with physiological barriers, leading to ineffective treatment and systemic side effects. The ETH Zurich team has found a solution by using Magnetospirillum bacteria, which naturally produce magnetic nanoparticles. These bacteria can be guided with external rotating magnetic fields, allowing them to slip through blood vessel walls and accumulate in tumor tissue.
Once inside the tumor, these bacteria can:
- Deliver cancer drugs directly to tumor cells.
- Stimulate the immune system as an anti-cancer therapy.
- Penetrate deep into tumors, thanks to their natural movement and magnetic propulsion.
This breakthrough technology could increase drug effectiveness, lower required doses, and reduce harmful side effects. ETH Zurich is pioneering this approach to make cancer treatment more precise and efficient.
Learn more at Medical Microsystems Lab, ETH Zurich
