Why do the nanoparticles attach preferentially to the tumors vs. healthy cells?
The nanotechnology is engineered to seek out certain chemicals present in Cancer. There are chemical markers given off by certain cancers. In my case, the chemical marker for my cancer is called a CEA count. It indicates the possible presence of cancer if the marker is above 3.4 for my case and age.
I have heard of CEA numbers at 300 and higher; mine is currently at 3.2 and going lower. Cancer is also indicated by what is called “hyper metabolic activity”. This is where the Growing Cancer cells are rapidly growing and metabolizing glucose. This is the foundation for a PET scan.
Fortunately or unfortunately, one becomes a knowledgeable resource for stuff like this after 9 operations, 3 rounds of Chemotherapy and a violent anaphylactic shock reaction to the Chemo therapy, I’m still standing.
It doesn't say in the article, but they may be tagged with antibodies that recognize proteins only found in the tumor cells.
Here's one way it might work. You make arrays of millions of different antibodies on silicon and put the chip in a solution of cultured cancer cells. Do the same with cultured non-cancer cells. Coat the nanoparticles with the antibodies the cancers cells stuck to preferentially compared to the non-cancer cells.
1) Higher blood flow, since the tumors are heavily vascularized, reproducing, and growing. 2) Future plans are to attach cell markers to the nanoparticles which would bind preferentially to the tumor cells.