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Nanotechnology was first used to destroy cancer cells through a highly selective set of "anti-tumor genes," according to the latest research on the subject.
The procedure selectively kills only cancer cells.
The technique can ignore healthy cells and may solve the dilemma of how to treat an inoperable cancer, especially near vital organs.
So far the procedure has only been tested in laboratory mice, but researchers are planning to launch human trials within two years.
The study results were published online by the British journal Cancer Research.
"Gene therapy has great potential to create cancer treatments that are safe and effective, but place the genes in cancer cells remains one of the greatest challenges in this specialty," said research team leader of the Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of London, Dr. Andreas Schatzlein.
"This is the first time it has been shown that nano-particles can be used to reach tumors in a very selective basis. This is an exciting step in this field" he added.
Read: Nanotechnology Dangerous?
Rapid progress
The use of nanotechnology to fight cancer has been advancing rapidly in recent years.
Once inside the cell and the gene involved in the particle recognized carcinogen and active environment. The result is toxic, but only for harmful cells it does not affect healthy tissue
Dr. Andreas Schatzlein, a researcher at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of London
A team of scientists from Stanford University in the United States in 2005 inserted synthetic microscopic tubes, called carbon nanotubes, into diseased cells after exposure to near infrared light using a laser.
This successfully ended the cells, while those which were not inserted the tubes were not affected.
Read: Cancer Nanotechnology
In this latest research results were similar, but instead of microscopic tubes were used genes.
"Once inside the cell and the gene involved in the particle recognized carcinogen and active environment. The result is toxic, but only for harmful cells and does not affect healthy tissue.
We hope that this therapy is used to treat cancer patients in clinical trials within a couple of years, "added Dr. Schatzlein.
Traditional chemotherapy kills cells indiscriminately in the affected area of the body, thereby generating side effects such as fatigue, hair loss or nausea.
It is hoped that gene therapy eliminates many of these side effects in a more focused treatment.
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