News : Nano-vehicles to target cancer

Scientists say a modified plant virus has the potential to radically improve the delivery of today's anti-cancer therapeutics and significantly reduce the harsh side effects of chemotherapy.

The researchers from North Carolina State University have developed what they call nano-sized cargo vehicles that can be loaded with anti-cancer drugs and target tumor cells inside the human body.

The delivery system, a virus known as the Red Clover Necrotic Mosiac Virus, has a built-in "cargo space" of 17 nanometers, which can be loaded with anti-cancer drugs.

The researchers say the virus is better than human-made nano particles because doesn't "leak" it's cargo.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVEN LOMMEL, PROFESSOR OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND GENETICS AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHAN FRAZEN, PROFESSOR OF BIOPHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY