Thursday, March 29, 2007
Nanotubes smuggle anti-HIV molecules into cells
Carbon nanotubes have been used to smuggle HIV-blocking molecules into human cells. Although preliminary, the discovery could lead to new treatments for the deadly virus.
An aspect of RNA interference (RNAi), "small interfering" molecules (siRNA) have been suggested as a treatment for HIV in the past. Their ability to destroy messenger-RNA means they can be made to block the production of cell-surface receptor-proteins, which HIV relies on to invade immune cells known as T-cells.
The trouble is getting siRNA into the cells in the first place.
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