University of Alberta scientists have pulled into the lead in a race to use nanomachines for improved disease detection and drug delivery in patients.
In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers describe the creation of synthetic DNA motors in living cells. The process – previously only successful in test tubes – demonstrates how DNA motors can be used to accomplish specific and focused biological functions in live cells.
“This is really big because of the diverse potential applications,” says Chris Le, Canada Research Chair and a distinguished university professor of laboratory medicine & pathology. “One outcome of this will be to provide better and earlier disease detection. Another is the controllable release of targeted drug molecules within patients, resulting in fewer side effects.”
Read more at the University of Alberta
