Tiny magnetic discs could kill cancer cells: study

November 29, 2009

Tiny magnetic discs just a millionth of a metre in diameter could be used to used to kill cancer cells, according to a study published on Sunday.

Laboratory tests found the so-called "nanodiscs", around 60 billionths of a metre thick, could be used to disrupt the membranes of cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.

The discs are made from an iron-nickel alloy, which move when subjected to a magnetic field, damaging the cancer cells, the report published in Nature Materials said.

One of the study's authors, Elena Rozhlova of Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, said subjecting the discs to a low magnetic field for around ten minutes was enough to destroy 90 percent of cancer cells in tests.

In a commentary on the report, Jon Dobson of Keele University in Britain said antibodies could be used to direct the discs towards tumour cells.

"This provides an elegant and rapid technique for targeting tumour destruction without the side effects associated with systemic treatments such as chemotherapy," Dobson wrote.

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plasticpower - Nov 29, 2009
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Where do the disks go after the cancer cells are killed, and how do they affect normal cells?
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jerryd - Nov 29, 2009
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Terrible article, badly written.

The dics' seem to be used as bullets moved by magnetic fields, not magnetic force from them killing the cells. It's junk like this that is the basis of false claims magnetic fields hurt cells. Likely the 'dics'' are not even magnetized.
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Birger - Nov 30, 2009
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Where do the disks go after the cancer cells are killed, and how do they affect normal cells?

Presumably they are mopped up by the liver, and rapidly corrode into microscopic rust.
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mb52 - Nov 30, 2009
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This claim should be backed by more usefull information. There are a lot of peoplle dying every day from cancer and if this method is so effective that can save lifes then it should be given more detailed puplicity and taken up by people willing to put it into practice.
As presented this information does not worth much...
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