MONTREAL, Feb. 16, 2012 \/CNW Telbec\/ - Researchers at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al have succeeded in changing the genetic material of cancer cells using a brand-new transfection method. This major breakthrough in nanosurgery opens the door to new medical applications, among others for the treatment of cancers. <\/p>\n
A light scalpel to treat cancerous cells <\/p>\n
The unique method developed by Professor Michel Meunier and his team uses a femtosecond laser (a laser with ultra-short pulses) along with gold nanoparticles. Deposited on the cells, these nanoparticles concentrate the laser's energy and make it possible to perform nanometric-scale surgery in an extremely precise and non-invasive fashion. The technique allows to change the expression of genes in the cancer cells and could be used to slow their migration and prevent the formation of metastases. <\/p>\n
The technique perfected by Professor Meunier and his colleagues is a promising alternative to conventional cellular transfection methods, such as lipofection. The experiment, carried out in Montr\u00e9al laboratories on malignant human melanoma cells, demonstrated 70% optoporation effectiveness, as well as a transfection performance three times higher than lipofection treatment. In addition, unlike conventional treatment, which destroys the physical integrity of the cells, the new method assures cellular viability, with a toxicity of less than 1%. The study's results were published in the prestigious journal Biomaterials. <\/p>\n
This major scientific breakthrough could lead to the development of promising applications, including new therapeutic approaches in oncology, neurology and cardiology. <\/p>\n
Professor Meunier's team works in collaboration with researchers from the Department of Medicine at the McGill University Health Centre. Their research work receives financial support from the Fonds Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canada Research Chairs program (CRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). <\/p>\n
About Polytechnique Montreal <\/p>\n
Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al is one of Canada's leading engineering teaching and research institutions. It is the largest engineering university in Qu\u00e9bec for the size of its student body and the scope of its research activities. With over 38,500 graduates, Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al has graduated 25% of the current members of the l'Ordre des ing\u00e9nieurs du Qu\u00e9bec. Polytechnique provides training in 16 engineering specialties, has 242 professors and more than 7,100 students. It has an annual operating budget of over $200 million, including a $72-million research budget. <\/p>\n
REFERENCE: Baumgart J. et al., Off-resonance plasmonic enhanced femtosecond laser optoporation and transfection of cancer cells, Biomaterials (2012), doi:10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2011.11.062 <\/p>\n
Annie Touchette Read more: MONTREAL, Feb. 16, 2012 \/CNW Telbec\/ - Researchers at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al have succeeded in changing the genetic material of cancer cells using a brand-new transfection method. Continue reading
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\nNanosurgery and the fight against cancer: major breakthrough at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"