S. Korean scientists develop anti-cancer nanocarrier

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Korean scientists has created a
polymeric nanocarrier material that may help combat breast cancer, a local
university said Tuesday.
The Kyung Hee University team, led by Lee Sang-cheon, a professor at the
university's dental medical gradate school, said it has developed "polymer
micelles" with bioabsorbable mineralized calcium phosphate nanoshells that can
effectively carry and inject medication directly into cancerous tumors in
laboratory tests.
Because of their robust outer casing, the newly created micelles do not break up
in the bloodstream and are harmless inside the body. They also have controlled
drug-releasing properties that can reduce health hazards caused by powerful
cancer-fighting drugs.
Conventional chemotherapy often indiscriminately damages healthy tissue and
internal organs as they fight tumor growth.
"The use of the nanoshell is unprecedented and has considerable growth potential
in terms of wider applications down the road," Lee said.
The Seoul-based university said the research was published as the cover article
of the January issue of the Britain-based journal "Chemical Communications."
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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