Sono dei nanorobot ottenuti ripiegando frammenti di DNA. Viaggiano nell’organismo e uccidono i tumori affamandoli, perché sono in grado di chiudere i vasi sanguigni che li nutrono. È questo il risultato della ricerca condotta in Cina dal Centro nazionale per le nanoscienze e pubblicata sulla rivista Nature Biotechnology: microscopici foglietti di Dna, delle dimensioni 90 per 60 milionesimi di millimetro, su cui viene attaccato l’enzima trombina, che induce la formazione di coaguli che chiudono i vasi sanguigni del tumore.
I risultati di test condotti su topi - nei quali sono state riprodotte forme umane dei tumori di seno, ovaie, polmoni e pelle - sono positivi: “Abbiamo sviluppato il primo sistema robotico fatto di DNA e completamente autonomo, programmato per una terapia anticancro", ha detto uno degli autori dello studio, Hao Yan, dell'Università dell'Arizona.
I nanorobot hanno viaggiato nel sangue dei topi e hanno “riconosciuto” le cellule tumorali grazie a una molecola specifica. Arrivati a destinazione, hanno liberato l'enzima nel tumore come un cavallo di Troia.
ANSA/BRav
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