Researchers at Edinburgh University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.have collaborated to develop a device which can limit the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients.
The device uses tiny amounts of metal palladium to trigger reactions in the cells, allowing the cancer drugs to be activated and delivered at the tumour site.
As the metal particles are covered in a coating, they can penetrate the cells without causing damage.
According to researchers, the device can protect cancer patients from hair loss, sickness and weakened immune systems, which are associated with chemotherapy.
Apart from delivering cancer drugs to the tumour site, the device can also be used to deliver dyes to organs for diagnostic tests, the researchers noted.