FACTS:
The Leibniz Institute of Materials Engineering, and the University of Ioannina are successfully eradicating cancer with nano-sized copper compounds combined with immunotherapy. They found that tumors are sensitive to copper oxide nanoparticles. Researchers combined this with iron oxide to target cancer cells without compromising healthy cells. This combination not only eliminated the tumors, but prevented future tumors from forming, acting as a sort of cancer-vaccine.
QUOTES:
Professor Stefaan Soenen and Dr. Bella B. Manshian from the Department of Imaging and Pathology, who worked together on the study:
“Any material that you create at a nanoscale has slightly different characteristics than its normal-sized counterpart,” … “If we would ingest metal oxides in large quantities, they can be dangerous, but at a nanoscale and at controlled, safe, concentrations, they can actually be beneficial.” … “We noticed that the copper compounds not only could kill the tumor cells directly, they also could assist those cells in the immune system that fight foreign substances, like tumors,” … “As far as I’m aware, this is the first time that metal oxides are used to efficiently fight cancer cells with long-lasting immune effects in live models,” … “As a next step, we want to create other metal nanoparticles, and identify which particles affect which types of cancer. This should result in a comprehensive database.”
SOURCE:
To read the complete study published in the German Chemical Society Journal, click here.
