Nanocell

Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, plays a major role in the development of a tumor.

After a tumor has grown to about the size of a cubic millimeter, its core becomes hypoxic, and it begins to release growth factors to recruit new blood vessels that will supply it with oxygen.

These resistant cancer cells could be killed by chemotherapeutic drugs, but once the vasculature to the tumor has been cut off, there is no way for chemotherapy to be delivered.

Labs at MIT are in the process of developing nanocells capable of delivering both types of drugs.

Work remains to be done to win clinical approval for the technology, but results from Sengupta's lab indicate that the nanocells are more effective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy.