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'Nanobees' successfully shrink, suppress cancer tumors
Researchers are using nanoparticles to deliver the bee venom melittin through the body to kill cancerous tumor cells. In an experiment with mice, the nanobees targeted the tumors, effectively stopped them from growing, and even shrank them in some cases.8/21/2009 7:30:00 AM By: Sharon Gaudin
Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine are creating "nanobees" to fight cancerous tumors.
Scientists at the St. Louis medical school announced this week that they are using nanoparticles to deliver the bee venom melittin through the body to kill cancerous tumor cells.
In an experiment with mice, the nanobees targeted the tumors and effectively stopped them from growing, and even shrank them in some cases.
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The university also reported that while the melittin-carrying nanoparticles can slow or even shrink some tumors, they also may be able to act at early stages to prevent cancer from even developing.
*nanobe
"The nanobees fly in, land on the surface of cells and deposit their cargo of melittin, which rapidly merges with the target cells," says Dr. Samuel Wickline, who heads the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University.
Page Navigation 1) Nonobees' cancer killing sting. - Page 12) Nanotech's increasing role in battle against cancer. - Page 2
3) Growth of tumors slowed by 25 per cent. - Page 3
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