Carbon Nanotubes Catch Cancer
JC Rawls, Biomedical Engineering, University of Rhode Island
BME 281 First Presentation, October 26, 2011 <[email protected]>
Carbon Nanotubes are one of the hardest substances known
currently on Earth. These new nanotubes have the ability of
catching over eight times as many cancerous cells through the
use of silicon posts coated with antibodies.
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be made into other shapes in order to fit the correct tests.
An example of a carbon nanotube can be seen here:
I. INTRODUCTION
here are over a hundred types of cancer, in which any
part of the body can be affected. According to a study
in 2004, around 7.4 million people died from cancer.
This surprising large number makes up 13% of the total
deaths around the world.
Seeing as cancer has a large impact on the world, it
poses a rather vast and difficult question. How can we help
improve survivability of this disease? Many scientists believe
that cancer can be more efficiently treated if the disease is
found in earlier stages. Screenings, tests to determine if one
has cancer, is the primary target for advancement in
technology.
II. METHODS
The current and previous technology used in order to
test for cancer involve small silicon “posts” that are coated
with antibodies. Blood from the patient is sent over these
posts in which tumor cells become trapped against these
antibodies. The truth to this method is that only a small
percentage of the cancerous cells actually pass over the
antibody coated posts, causing a large area for error.
III. RESULTS
Besides being one of the strongest objects in the world right
now, carbon nanotubes stand out as one of the least dense
objects as well. Scientists believe carbon nanotubes will
allow more accurate diagnostics because of the greater chance
to find a diagnosis.
Unlike the silicon posts, carbon
nanotubes allow a larger portion of blood to pass through. If
coated with antibodies for cancer, the chances of a cancerous
cell actually finding an antibody is increased drastically.
These new nanotubes have the ability of catching over eight
times as many cancerous cells giving this material a bright
future.
IV. DISCUSSION
The geometry of such devices allows much room
for advancement in other diseases besides cancer. Since
diagnosis testing involves testing a sample for certain
molecules, the larger the surface area for the sample to come
into contact with, the better. This movement towards
nanotubes may be a giant leap in diagnostic testing for this
reason.
REFERENCES
Recently there has been a move away from these silicon
posts and towards a new material that has recently been
discovered.
This material is known as carbon nanotubes. Currently on
earth, this is the hardest substance known. Although it is the
hardest, they also consist of less than 1% carbon and 99% air.
This allows fluids to pass easily through the nanotubes. Take
note that these carbon nanotubes are not all cylinders and can
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http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/cancer/02_en.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110329134134.htm
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice//images/article_images/201103261928112.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sysimages/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/05/20/na
notube.article.jpg