Scientists from two Scottish universities have won a £2 million research grant to develop a drug-delivery system which uses a “magic bullet” to destroy cancer cells.
A team of experts at Dundee and St Andrews universities demonstrated in the laboratory last year that cancer cells could be destroyed by a single targeted pulse of ultrasound, using a “sniper rifle” approach developed from military technology.
The magic-bullet technology could eventually end the need for traumatic surgery and debilitating drug treatments for cancer patients.
The research is being led by Dr Paul Campbell, a senior lecturer in physics at Dundee University, and Professor Kishan Dholakia, a professor of physics at St Andrews.
Dr Campbell told The Scotsman yesterday that the aim of the grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council would be to develop non-invasive surgical techniques using ultrasound and laser technology.
