A California high school student recently won the $100,000 grand prize in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. At just 17 years old, Angela Zhang designed a gold-iron oxide nanoparticle to deliver chemotherapy. The discovery is intended to be used as an alternative to chemotherapy. Where chemotherapy is injected into the body killing healthy cells as well as cancer cells and causing significant side effects in cancer patients, Zhang's approach uses nanotechnology to target and send a cancer-fighting drug directly to the tumor. She then used an infrared laser to track the nanoparticles and prove that the tumors diminished.
Zhang was ecstatic about her win and described it as "... a Cinderella moment for a science nerd like me."
Congratulations Ms. Zhang, for thinking outside the box.
Watch the CBS interview with Angela discussing her achievement.
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