Key points from article :
Microbubbles are small manufactured spheres half the size of a red blood cell.
Scientists believe they can be used to transport drugs to highly specific locations within the body.
Antibodies attached to the microbubbles are attracted to the growth hormone found around cancer cells.
Then microbubbles became concentrated at the site of the tumour.
An ultrasound device was used to burst open the microbubbles, releasing anti-cancer agent at tumour site.
“Microbubbles allow us to use powerful drugs with precision, that reduces the risk of damaging healthy cells.” - Nicola Ingram, lead author.
Scientists were able to slow cancer growth with a much smaller drug dose.
“Efficacy of drug delivery is substantially improved..." Stephen Evans, co author.
Mext stage of the research is to look at using microbubbles to develop targeted, triggered, delivery systems in patients.
Research by University of Leeds published in Theranostics.
