Scientists have succeeded in creating large-sized nanocells to deliver drugs to internal organs. Reported by Cambridge University.
Nanocells (meaning “cages”, not biological cells) are small artificial containers that can be used to deliver therapeutic agents to the right place in the body. At the same time, drug molecules are too large and therefore do not fit in standard small containers.
Now Kai Wu and colleagues have succeeded in overcoming the challenges posed by the self-assembly of large nanocells. Their self-assembly process was inspired by natural biological systems, and with it they were able to build large artificial nanocells, the largest cell with an enclosed volume of more than 92 cubic nanometers – a record for any ever created in this class. Some nanocells were larger, but had an open design, and the molecule of the active substance “popped out” from them.
The authors hope that their invention could be used to deliver larger therapeutic biomolecules to specific parts of the body. The researchers also note that the large interior spaces of the nanocells could serve as a platform for the binding of large biomolecules such as hydrophobic membrane proteins or proteases, which could be useful in drug development.
previous experiment showedThe disappearing balloon trick can’t fool the monkeys.