Chinese scientists claim they have developed an infrared light-based, remotely-controlled gene-editing tool that can target and kill cancer cells with precision.
A team led by Professor Song Yujun from the Nanjing University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences designed an infrared light-responsive nano-carrier to be used for the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which will have great potential in cancer therapeutics.
The strong penetrability of infrared light enables scientists to precisely control the gene editing tool in deep human tissue.
The CRISPR-Cas9 technique allows genetic materials to be added, removed or altered in particular locations in the human genome. But it remains a challenge in precision medicine worldwide due to the off-target effect of the gene-editing tool, like causing mutation or even cancer in healthy cells due to the inaccurate excision of genes.
The new technique developed by Song’s team has been tested on lab rats with tumors, whose progression was delayed about 20 days after the rat was treated with the new technique.
“Using infrared light, the new technique can precisely alter or cut the designated spot in the genome, improving the target effect of the existing gene-editing tool,” Song told the People’s Daily.
But he said the new technique would still be far from human clinical trials due to concerns like the toxic effect of nano materials and that his team also needed to determine the amount of infrared light needed for curing cancers in humans. A thorough ethics review is also mandated by Chinese authorities.
Last year, Chinese biologist He Jiankui used the CRISPR-Cas9 tool and altered the CCR5 gene of human embryos in a morally deplorable experiment that led to the birth of the world’s first gene-edited babies.
China has tightened scrutiny of biomedical technology after the birth of the gene-edited twins shocked academia. The country updated a law on biomedical technology in February, which mandated high-risk clinical research projects including gene-editing must be approved by the National Health Commission, with both academic and ethics reviews as the prerequisite for clinical trials.
Excellent website. A lot of helpful info here. I am sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
Super-Duper blog! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am taking your feeds also
fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You should continue your writing. I’m confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!
I have been checking out some of your stories and i must say pretty clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your site.
I think other website owners should take this web site as an example , very clean and excellent user genial design and style.
hi!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
Deference to op, some great information .
You have noted very interesting details! ps nice web site.
you may have a terrific blog right here! would you prefer to make some invite posts on my blog?
I’d need to examine with you here. Which is not something I often do! I take pleasure in reading a put up that may make individuals think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
An attention-grabbing discussion is value comment. I believe that you should write more on this subject, it won’t be a taboo subject however usually persons are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
F*ckin’ remarkable things here. I am very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Some genuinely wonderful information, Gladiolus I observed this. “Purchase not friends by gifts when thou ceasest to give, such will cease to love.” by Thomas Fuller.
Hello! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the nice data you’ve here on this post. I shall be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What an ideal web site.
I like this website because so much utile material on here : D.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Cheers!