By mtigges, Section News Posted on Fri Jun 18, 2004 at 06:19:24 PM PST
The BBC is reporting on nanotech being used for a novel therapy delivery system. The company pSivida is developing BrachySil, a bio-silicon, nanoscale, brachytherapy solution. Brachytherapy is a special type of radiation treatment for cancer patients. BrachySil is manufactured by embedding the pores of silicon with phosphorus. This is then irradiated in a reactor, creating phosphorus-32 for the treatment. Phosphorus-32 has a 2 week half life, almost six times as long as conventional therapy. The bio-silicon is then directed to the tumour by a needle injection.
Lab tests have shown promise, namely that BrachySil is very well retained within liver tissue with little or no radioactivity reaching surrounding tissue or the blood stream, and that therapy killed tissue within a very well-defined radius of application.
Human trials have begun in Singapore. Currently there are two liver cancer patients being treated, with plans for ten more. Results are expected by October 2004, with the product reaching market in 2006. Long term plans are to target also brain and pancreas tumors.
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