Carbon nanotubes give cancer drugs a boost

05-Mar-2013 - India

Carbon-based nanomaterials have been found to enhance the ability of the anti-cancer drug Paclitaxel to treat of lung cancer.

Both graphene oxide and single-walled carbon nanotubes were found to enhance cancer-cell death in lung-cancer cells when combined with the Paclitaxel, indicating a synergistic effect that has been identified as reactive-oxygen species dependent.

Combination therapies, where more than one therapeutic agent is used to treat a cancer, were first developed to tackle heterogeneity in tumours – that is the presence of more than one type of cell. Typically this involves combinations of different drugs, but the use of carbon-based nanomaterials instead could lower the side effects experienced by patients, while still offering enhanced treatment effects.

Original publication

Other news from the department science

Most read news

More news from our other portals

All FT-IR spectrometer manufacturers at a glance