The drugs are encapsulated in nanoparticles that travel through the bloodstream but are released only at the site of the tumour. Filmed animation courtesy of Philips Research.
Scientists on the Sonodrugs project, led by medical technology company Philips, are preparing a new method of drug delivery, where drugs can be delivered to the site of a tumour by microscopic nanocarriers. These nanocarriers are then activated locally at the site of the tumour, triggering the release of the drug.
‘The drug only acts at the disease site and not on the rest of the body, so thereby minimising the side effects and increasing the efficacy of the treatment,’ said Dr Charles Sio, a senior scientist on the project.
Horizon’s camera crew travelled to the Sonodrugs laboratory in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, to take a closer look.
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