Previously, a group of scientists had created structures that could activate “death receptors” on the surface of cells, causing them to die. These structures were hexagons made of six peptides (chains of amino acids).
The art of creating nanoscale structures from DNA is called DNA origami, and a team of scientists have been doing it for many years. They have now been able to use the technique to create a “kill switch” that is activated under the right conditions.
The key is the low pH or acidic environment that usually surrounds cancer cells. It is this that activates the nanorobot. In laboratory tests, scientists were able to show that at normal pH levels (7.4) the weapon remains hidden inside the nanostructure, but when the pH drops to 6.5 it exhibits an antitumor effect.
Source: Ferra
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