Cancer "nanobomb" to fight inoperable tumors

Always appreciate a clever new idea when you see one: Balaji Panchapakesan, at the University of Delaware, Newark, came up with an interesting new way to fight inoperable tumors—by blowing them up.

According to NewScientist.com, nanotubes, which are filled with water, are injected directly into the tumor. Then, the nanotubes are then activated with a laser light set to a specific wavelength to minimize any residual tissue damage. Once active, the nanotubes begin to boil, which causes an explosion, killing adjacent tumor cells.

Although this method does sound a bit dangerous (well, at least to me), Panchapakesan says that this technique has already been used to target and destroy BT474 cells, a set of specific tumor cells found in the breast. He also says that this process is also minimally invasive, which results in fast recovery times and little side effects.

Kudos to Panchapakesan for creating a new option for fighting cancer. Who would have thought blowing stuff up could help mankind so much. 

And this is why I love science.

NewScientist.com -  Invention: Cancer nanobomb