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The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation at the NETPark Research Institute collaborates with observatories world-wide in the construction, commissioning and exploitation of innovative hi-tech instruments for optical and infrared astronomy. Key research areas are advanced spectroscopy, adaptive optics, applied optics, low light level detectors and precision engineering/metrology.

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Magnets could aid cancer therapy
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Magnets could aid cancer therapy

2008-04-18
Newsfeed

Cells armed with microscopic magnets could be used as a gene therapy for cancer, a study suggests.

Cells armed with microscopic magnets could be used as a gene therapy for cancer, a study suggests.

Scientists believe immune system cells are potentially ideal delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes that fight cancer.

But past studies have found that the cells reach tumours in insufficient numbers.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have now developed a new "magnetic targeting" technique to overcome the problem.

The treatment involves inserting tiny "nanomagnets" into white blood cells called monocytes which are used to carry the anti-cancer genes.

A small magnet is then placed over the tumour which attracts the monocytes after they are injected into the bloodstream.

Researchers have been testing the theory in mice.

Professor Claire Lewis, who heads the laboratory, said: "This new technique could also be used to help deliver therapeutic genes in other diseases like arthritic joints or ischaemic (starved of blood) heart tissue."

The team is now looking at how effective magnetic targeting is at delivering a variety of different cancer-fighting genes, including ones which could halt the spread of tumours.

Copyright © The Press Association 2008


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