Killing Cancer with Arsenic-Laced Fat Bubbles

Guest: Thomas O’Halloran, PhD, Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Director, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University? The goal of treating cancer is to kill off the harmful cells without hurting the healthy ones. Most cancer treatments can’t do that very well and a lot of healthy cells get caught in the crossfire. So scientists are trying to figure out how to drop dangerous drugs like a special delivery from UPS right on the doorstep of a cancer cell. Chemist Thomas O’Halloran is experimenting with special deliveries of arsenic wrapped in tiny bubbles of fat.