Nanoimpellers are an experimental technology developed to eliminate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy by facilitating treatment of only specific areas of the body.
Nanoimpellers are nanoscale, light-activated containers filled with cancer-fighting drugs that only release their contents when hit by a specific type of laser.
[1] Nanoimpellers for cancer drug delivery were first demonstrated in 2008.
[2][3] Initial work used ultraviolet light, however the low penetration in tissue and potential for toxicity mean this is not well suited for delivery in patients.
[1] Later work has shifted to using near infrared light and two photon excitation (TPE) to trigger release.