The deadly duo of nanotubes and antibodies that search and distroy breast cancer cells
A recent development in nano medicine opened a possible gateway in curing aggressive form of breast cancer that is killing millions around the world, the positive development in this filed came from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and its partners.
Nanotubes made of carbon cylinders about a nanometre in diameter which are single walled have been highly touted for potential applications such as ultra strong fibers, electrical wires in molecular devices, or hydrogen storage components for fuel cells which can also be used in the detection and destruction breast cancer cells.
HER2 is one of a family of genes that help regulate the growth and proliferation of human cells. Normal cells have two copies of HER2, but about 20 to 25 percent of breast cancer cells have multiple copies of the gene, resulting in the overproduction of a HER2-encoded protein. These multiple copies of HER2 tumors can successfully tracked and destroy by adding chicken immunoglobulin IgY antibody to nanotubes.
The two unique optical properties of carbon nanotubes allow this link to be exploited for improved detection and destruction of HER2 breast cancer cells. Near-infrared laser light at a wavelength of 785 nanometers reflects intensely off the nanotubes, and this strong signal is easily detected by a technique called Raman spectroscopy. Increase the laser light’s wavelength to 808, nanometers and it will be absorbed by the nanotubes, incinerating them and HER2 tumor cells to which they are attached and the wide genetic differences between human and avian species means that the chicken IgY antibody to HER2 reacts strongly with the target protein expressed on tumor cells while ignoring normal cells with other human proteins. The carbon nanotubes attached to the antibodies also become linked to the HER2 tumors.
Although this finding is in its infancy, scientist can see the future potential of this new technology. The next step for the research team is to see it working works with animals starting with mouse trails.
