Meteor mineral targets cancer
A COMPOUND based on metal from a meteor that landed in the Gulf of mexico 66 million years ago could be used to beat cancer.
University of Warwick researchers have found that blasting iridium with a laser converts oxygen into a form that is deadly to cancer cells but harmless to healthy ones.
Using a special chemical coating, the team was able to ‘hook’ iridium to the blood protein albumin, which then glowed very brightly so they could track its passage into tumour cells using a microscope.
The dormant compound was then switched on by a laser and destroyed the deadly cells from their centre.
The scientists say they hope it might one day revolutionise cancer treatment.