Barbecue Cures Cancer

Well now I've heard it all!! Both Nursing in Practice and The Press Association are reporting that the University of Texas South-western Medical Centre in Dallas has a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that cancer cells can be killed off by "barbecuing" them with microscopic carbon molecules known as nanotubes.

The technique uses infra-red light to heat up the carbon nanotubes in a similar way to charcoal on a barbecue. The heated nanotubes then "cook" and destroy the cancer cells. Carbon nanotubes are tiny hollow molecules of carbon a minute fraction of the width of a human hair. They have several novel properties, including being very efficient heat conductors. The researchers first coated the nanotubes with tumour-seeking antibodies, allowing them to "home in" on cancer cells. The nanotubes were then used to attack lymphoma cancer cells. After latching onto the cells, the carbon molecules were exposed to near infra-red light, quickly heating up and killing the cancerous white blood cells. However, nanotubes coated with a different antibody did not attach to the cells or kill them, showing that the treatment could be targeted.

It's gobbledygook to me but if it saves a life and promotes barbecuing it's worth mentioning.