Cancer is a complex disease that is caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the role of bioelectricity in cancer. Bioelect
ricity is the flow of electrical current through living cells and tissues. It is thought that cancer cells may produce and use bioelectricity in different ways than normal cells, which could make them more vulnerable to treatment.
Dr Frankie Rawson is leading a team at the School of Pharmacy, Nottingham, in the field of cancer bioelectricity. His team's research focuses on developing new ways to use bioelectricity to treat cancer. Dr Rawson's work has shown that cancer cells can produce and use bioelectricity in a number of ways. For example, cancer cells can produce more electrical current than normal cells, and they can also use electrical current to drive the growth and spread of cancer.
Cell replication is intrinsically linked to membrane current flow. When a cell divides, it needs to create a new cell membrane. This process requires the movement of ions and electrons across the cell membrane, which generates an electrical current. Cancer cells are thought to be more dependent on electrical current for cell division than normal cells. This is because cancer cells often have mutations in the genes that control cell division. These mutations can make it difficult for cancer cells to divide without the help of electrical current.
This gives rise to new treatment opportunities. If cancer cells are more dependent on electrical current for cell division, then it may be possible to target them with electrical current treatments. For example, electrodes could be used to deliver electrical current directly to cancer cells, killing them or stopping them from growing. Drugs that interact with the electrical properties of cancer cells could also be used to make them more sensitive to other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Dr Rawson's team is at the cutting edge of cancer research. Their work has the potential to lead to the development of new and effective treatments for cancer. Dr Rawson believe that bioelectronics has the potential to revolutionise the way we treat disease. It is a new and promising field of research, and I am excited to be a part of it.
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