A TEM image of gold nanoparticles coating cells in a glutathione surface corona illustrating the molecular size of nanoparticles


Tiny man made nanoparticles have been used to attack cancerous cells by introducing a powerful drug leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is the first therapeutic use of nanotechnology in living animals. All living cells require folic acid to replicate. Cancer cells have a greater affinity for folic acid than normal living cells. By attaching the 5 folic acid molecules to branches of the dendrimer, a type of polymer, the cancer cells are persuaded or conned into accepting the toxic drug which kills the cancerous cells


Size: 5906px × 4544px
Location: Oxford, England, UK, United Kingdom, EU, Europe, GB, Great Britain,
Photo credit: © NCP Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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