“Mirror-Image” Pores Offer Highly Selective Cancer Cure

“Mirror-Image” Pores Offer Highly Selective Cancer Cure
——————-
Scientists have developed an exciting new strategy to fight tumors using tiny, specially engineered holes, or nanopores, that destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy ones untouched, according to a report on Earth.com.

This technique uses D-peptides, which are molecules that are mirror images of the natural peptides found in the body. Cancer cells have a unique feature: they display many of these mirror-image components on their surface, while healthy cells do not.

The D-peptide pores are engineered to specifically recognize and interact only with the surface of the tumor cells. Once they attach, the pores assemble into lethal holes, causing the cancer cell to leak its contents and die. This high selectivity minimizes the severe side effects typical of chemotherapy, making the approach a significant step toward safer, more precise cancer treatments.