Drilling Into Cancer Cells

At Durham University, a bold new technique for fighting cancer has emerged--sending in nanomachines to drill into cancer cells. Led by Dr. Robert Pal, the research initiative has created molecules designed to locate and target cancer cells within the body.

These molecules are equipped with a special motor that, when activated by ultraviolet light, begins to spin. The light-powered motor is then able to drill holes in the targeted cells. In one test, the nanomachines were able to break into and destroy prostate cancer cells in as little as one minute. This technique, which still requires further research, holds promise for treating treatment-resistant cancers.