Researchers from the Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have introduced an innovative cancer treatment approach using advanced devices known as “nanodrones.”
These cutting-edge nanodrones are meticulously designed to target and eliminate cancer cells.
Central to this breakthrough is an understanding of Natural Killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell crucial for our body’s defense against cancer. Scientists have long aspired to leverage NK cells in cancer therapy.
The UNIST team’s achievement, labeled NK cell-engaging nanodrones, utilizes a specific nanoparticle called the AaLS protein cage to achieve this objective.
What sets NK cell-engaging nanodrones apart is their unique composition, featuring two types of ligands (molecules binding to other molecules) on their surface, Study Finds reported.
One type is engineered to pinpoint cancer cells, while the other type attracts NK cells.
The attachment is facilitated through SpyCatcher/SpyTag protein ligation.
The researchers have developed two versions of these nanodrones, tailored to adhere to specific cancer cell types as well as human NK cells.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 