The most common deadly cancer - leukemia — has already killed 21,790 people in the United States alone this year, with an estimated 44,240 new cases detected.
So, to help reduce its numbers, scientists are up with arms researching on new ways to curb its increasing numbers or curb the disease at the nip. The key to discovering the disease in a patient, are the bone-marrow biopsies. So, to make these biopsies more efficient for leukemia patients, researchers have come up with better methods.
The University of New Mexico researchers’ new clinical device can amazingly turn the cancer-effected cells into ‘nano-magnets!’
The basic idea of the new development is the use of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles encased in a biocompatible material to spot the cancer cells.
With the injection of these nanoparticles into the body, they gather around cancer cells. In turn, they turn the cells into minuscule magnets, and hence can be easily captured by other magnets that are encased in the tips of biopsy needles.
Just five years to go, and this amazing and efficient device will be in the market for commercial use, hoping to help reduce both the numbers and death rates of leukemia patients across the world.
