◎陳成良

Tiny magnetic discs could kill cancer cells：study

研究稱細微磁盤可破壞癌細胞

Tiny magnetic discs just a millionth of a metre in diameter could be used to kill cancer cells, according to a study published on Sunday.

直徑只有百萬分之一公尺的細微磁性圓盤可用來殺死癌細胞，據周日公佈的一項研究指出。

Laboratory tests found the so-called "nanodiscs", around 60 billionths of a metre thick, could be used to disrupt the membranes of cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.

實驗室的測試發現，這種所謂「奈米圓盤」，厚度只有約600億分之一公尺，可用來破壞癌細胞的細胞膜，導致它們自我毀滅。

The discs are made from an iron-nickel alloy, which move when subjected to a magnetic field, damaging the cancer cells, the report published in Nature Materials said.

這種圓盤是由鐵鎳合金製成，當置於磁場時就會移動，破壞癌細胞，發表於「自然材料」期刊的這份報告說。

One of the study’s authors, Elena Rozhlova of Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, said subjecting the discs to a low magnetic field for around ten minutes was enough to destroy 90 percent of cancer cells in tests.

該研究執筆人之一、美國阿戈尼國家實驗室的艾蓮娜．羅茲洛瓦表示，在測試中將這種圓盤置於低磁場約10分鐘，就足以摧毀90%癌細胞。

In a commentary on the report, Jon Dobson of Keele University in Britain said antibodies could be used to direct the discs towards tumour cells.

英國基爾大學的瓊．杜布森評論這項研究報告時指出，可以利用抗體來指引這種圓盤朝向腫瘤細胞。

"This provides an elegant and rapid technique for targeting tumour destruction without the side effects associated with systemic treatments such as chemotherapy," Dobson wrote.

「此發現針對破壞腫瘤提供了一項簡潔且快速的科技，且沒有如化療等全身治療所引發的副作用」，杜布森寫道。

Dictionary 新聞辭典

（be）made from：片語，（產生本質變化的）由……製成。例句：The paper is made from wood.（紙是木材做的）。「be made of」則表示由成品可看出原料，例句：The table is made of wood. （這張桌子是木頭製造的）。

alloy：名詞，合金。用法如：an alloy of copper and zinc （銅和鋅的合金）。

systemic：形容詞，全身的；全身性的。用法如：systemic disease（全身性疾病）。

自由時報-990102

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