According to ScienceDaily, the Dutch researchers Jeroen Cornelissen and Roeland Nolte have been able to alter a virus into a distinctive drug distributor with success. The researchers took out all of the risky material from the virus in order that only the empty and semipermeable particles remained. They consequently connected these particles together, however, what is even more important is the fact that they were able to separate them again – a world first. With this breakthrough, these researchers have blazed a path for a novel use of drugs. The results of their research have been published in the journal Nature Chemistry.
The researchers were able to join the viral particles together by making use of light-sensitive polymers. While the viral particle has a negative charge, the polymer on the other hand has a positive charge. The two opposites attract and as a result the two stick together. As a consequence, the polymers act as a glue, and absolutely stuck together. As this is the case, the challenge lies in being able to separate all the parts once again.
The polymers that have been used by the researchers are long chain of molecules that are linked together in a tree-like structure. That is, every end of the chain can link to a dissimilar particle. The polymers that have been used by the researchers can in fact be manipulated with light and that is the mystery of their success. When polymers are illuminated with UV light or light having a low wavelength for a very brief period, they fall apart. This permitted the researchers to put the particles together, introduce this complex into the body and thereafter allow it to separate once more in the body.
Filling a virus
There are various ways in which the empty particle may be used. For instance, the particle can be filled with growth promoters or drugs. After it is injected in the body, one can make use of light to make sure that the complex separates at a particular location, from which the drug can spread progressively. On top of being use as drug distributors, virus complexes can also made use of to construct chips. In that case, as a replacement for drugs, a viral particle is filled with magnetic particles in order to make an integrated electronic switch. Now the researchers will try to apply layers of polymer virus complexes of varied make-up to a surface and thereafter, similar to conventional chips, make use of light to make structures and patterns in this.
Source: Science Daily
Mon, Jul 5, 2010
Anti Aging Supplements, Bioscience