Researchers from the Northwestern University have shown that nanodiamonds are very effective at delivering chemotherapy drugs to cells without the negative effects associated with current drug delivery agents. This is the first study to demonstrate the use of nanodiamonds in biomedicine. Other applications where this model might be used could be fighting tuberculosis or viral infections. The study has been published online by the journal Nano Letters.
One of the potential advantages is improved cancer treatment by limiting uncontrolled exposure of toxic drugs to the body. The aggregated clusters of nanodiamonds were shown to be ideal for carrying a chemotherapy drug and shielding it from normal cells so as not to kill them, releasing the drug slowly only after it reached its cellular target. Another advantage was that the nanodiamonds did not cause cell inflammation once the drug had been released, unlike materials currently being used. Cell inflammation is a serious complication that can predispose a patient to cancer, block the activity of the cancer drug and even promote tumor growth.
I guess diamonds are therefore not just a girl’s best friend but could become man’s as well!
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