Chinese scientists have discovered using nanometric biotechnology in cancer treatment can minimize damage to healthy cells.

Zhang Yangde, director of the Key Laboratory for Nanometric Biotechnology under the Chinese Ministry of Health, said: "Though many effective drugs have been developed to combat difficult and complicated cases of illness, the lack of related medicinal delivery methods makes many diseases incurable."

He cited as an example liver cancer, one of the most obstinate conditions currently afflicting 130,000 Chinese people.

"Chemotherapy is widely used in treating liver cancer. However, it harms healthy cells while killing cancer cells," said Zhang.

To overcome the problem, a team of scientists headed by Zhang attached nanometric-sized magnets both to the cancer drugs and the outside of liver tumours.

After being injected intravenously, the drugs arrived via the blood's circulatory system at the tumour and formed a high-density concentration there due to the interaction between the magnets.

Using nanometric biotechnology in cancer treatment could eradicate cancer cells to the maximum extent and effectively avoid impairing healthy bodily functions, Zhang said.

The research, which started in 1994, has so far completed experiments on animals and toxicological tests.

The experimental results showed that over 600 of more than 900 laboratory rats suffering from liver cancer recovered fully after the nano-tech treatment.

"Now we are applying for approval from the Ministry of Health for human trials," Zhang said.

"If the application goes smoothly, trials on people are expected to start at the end of this year, which will undoubtedly offer good news to liver cancer patients," Zhang added.