From the linked CNN article: Tiny gold rods among cells.
Someone mentioned nano-machines, which are tiny, sometimes microscopic machines, in a previous comment, and now look what I found. This story on CNN describes how for the first time scientists have been able to deploy microscopic machines, essentially tiny gold rods, into a cell's interior to destroy the cell.
Why would you want to do that? As the article states, if they could be injected into cancer cells specifically and destroy them, it would be a milestone moment in the fight against that insidious disease. Not only that, while all you'd want to do is destroy cancer cells, if the motors could be enhanced so they could carry out more specific tasks, they could be used for other beneficial purposes. Again, quoting the article, 'surgery within the cell.' I don't know why that would be desirable, but I'll leave that up to the doctors. I aso believe, although I can't say with certainty, that this is based on previous research, also done at Penn state by chemists back in 2007, that involved the manipulation of 2-micrometer gold rods.
Any time we get closer to better ways for fighting illness and disease, I'm always amazed, and while the practical application of this technology is a long way off, it holds promise.
I think this technology is something that should be really looked at. Cancer is a disease that kills so many people and yet we have no cure. If we were able to deploy these microscopic machines into cancer cells and destroy them that would be a great thing. Of course if there was a cure for cancer and if this was it, I have to ask how expensive will the treatment be. People already spend thousands of dollars for doctors and chemo therapy how much will a cure cost them? With technology there is always an expense and the greater the technology it seems the greater the expense to use it. Even though it is a long way off, this is something that should continue to be looked at and tested.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Theobald
Improvements in the medical industry to rid people of cancer would be amazing. However I wonder if the cost would be covered under the individuals insurance, or if this would be out of pocket. Also what would happen to the little tiny gold rods once it has destroyed a bad cell? Does it dissolve, and could it destroy other good cells. I would have other questions regarding the whole procedure.
ReplyDeleteBack maybe ten years ago, Cancer was a sleeping giant. No one could ever imagine that this horrific disease would kill so many people. I hope and pray that they have really found the cure for cancer. What I have came to find out about this disease is that starts replicating cells in a specific part of your body and doesn't stop. So by them creating this cell killing machine is such great news. I have had many loved ones pass away within months due to cancer. I hope they find a cure and find it fast because now a days you get cancer from eating chicken. Who would of thought that the food we consume can cause you this painful and deadly disease.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely amazed how much medical science and technology has advanced, even in the past decade such as the drug Gardasil (prevents human papilloma virus) and bionic limbs, . Its crazy to think that one day my body may be filled with tiny little metal rods. The research involved in this study is definitely worth continuing. I wonder if these rods will be much more direct than chemotherapy and radiation (which sometimes end up doing more harm than good), targeting only the infected cells. Also how long is this going to take to be FDA approved? A cure for cancer and disease couldn’t come soon enough.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely cancer is at the top of the list for needing to find cures, but we also need to look at other diseases that take futures away from children and young people. If this technology proves itself, we are that much closer to expanding poeples life expectancy. If people are out there just putting together programs for the fun of it (such as the pointer game), they may as well get together and come up with something useful for the medical field. They need as much help as they can.
ReplyDeleteThis is great news this technology can be universal in battling many if not all diseases. Once we enhance this technology we can program to fight cancer cells, HIV, cells and virus cells such as the flu and common cold. This technology can be the key to eliminate diseases. These Nano cells can also be little medics. For example Alzheimer disease attacks the brain. Now imagine if the Nano tech can not only destroy viruses and cancer cells but actually rebuild tissue. In this example Alzheimer disease attacks your brain and makes you forget your normal functions such as memory. If the Nano tech can build brain tissue then we can also eliminate those types of diseases. This technology has no end and can be the key for us to live longer and healthier.
ReplyDeleteKeith Prassas
ReplyDeleteI believe this technology is promising and it’s just getting started. The idea that Doctors can complete the task of ablating tissue and cancer cells without having to make large incisions, is amazing. I believe since they can already deploy these nano-machines into cells, it’s only a matter of time that they will be able to isolate them into any cell of their choosing, for ablation.
There are so many new technological advances that has already emerged, and there is one in particular that I found intriguing. According to http://my.clevelandclinic.org, there is a new technology that is being used for atrial septal defects, which is basically, a hole in the heart. It uses a robotically assisted line, using a mini camera that guides a stent through an artery, to close the hole in the heart, causing the defect. This procedure allows surgeons to complete closures within the heart, without having to make an incision through all the layers of the epithelial tissue and the rib cage. This procedure reduces the risk complications for the patient by 250%, and costs hundreds of thousands less than open heart surgery. This outstanding and It’s all do to the advancements in medical technology. (my.clevelandclinic.org, n.d.).
Author, Unknown. (n.d.). Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery: Atrial Septal Defect (ASD): New Approaches to Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery. Viewed from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/services/surgery/roboticallyassistedhasd.aspx
This new medical technology sounds very promising. Just knowing that doctors and scienctist are make advancements in finding a cure for cancer is amazing. My grandfather did lose his battle with cancer 11 years ago, I remember seeing him go through his radiation treatment which made him sick and was expensive. Just think as this advances doctors and scienctist will be able to cure not only cancer, HIV and many other diesease that there are no cure for. I am excited to see where this will go and a little worried about the cost for this kind of treatment.
ReplyDeleteCancer is such a horrific disease. The toll that it takes on people trying to fight it as well as just living with it is awful to see. Over the years the number of cancer patients continues to increase. There are so many different types of cancer. We have come such a long way and I think that is great. My big question would still be what really causes cancer. It would make sense to completely prevent the disease as well as cure it.
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