TED演讲:抗击癌症的新式武器(4)

 But there is one more big obstacle we have to think about. 但前方还有一个大障碍需要跨越。

In fact, it may be the biggest obstacle of all. 而且，也许是最大的一个障碍。

How do we deploy¹ this superweapon? 我们该如何部署这件超级武器？

I mean, every good weapon needs to be targeted, 每一件武器都要设定目标，

we have to target this superweapon to the supervillain cells that reside in the tumor². 我们要将这件超级武器瞄准潜伏在肿瘤内部的超级大反派。

But our bodies have a natural immune-defense³ system: 但人体是有免疫系统的：

cells that reside in the bloodstream and pick out things that don't belong, 血液里的各种细胞能辨认出外来物体，

so that it can destroy or eliminate them. 然后杀死或清除它们。

And guess what? Our nanoparticle is considered a foreign object. 很显然，我们的纳米粒子就是一种外来物体。

We have to sneak⁴ our nanoparticle past the tumor defense system. 我们要让它骗过肿瘤的防御系统。

We have to get it past this mechanism⁵ of getting rid of the foreign object by disguising it. 我们要伪装它，帮它通过重重岗哨，进入敌营。

So we add one more negatively charged layer around this nanoparticle, which serves two purposes. 于是我们再加上一层带负电的保护膜，包住我们的纳米粒子，目的有两个。

First, this outer layer is one of the naturally charged, highly hydrated polysaccharides that resides in our body. 第一，最外面这层保护膜是存在于我们体内的带电多糖水合物之一。

It creates a cloud of water molecules⁶ around the nanoparticle that gives us an invisibility cloaking effect. 它能在纳米粒子周围形成许多水分子，就像给纳米粒子穿上了隐形披风。

This invisibility cloak allows the nanoparticle 这件披风能帮助纳米粒子

to travel through the bloodstream long and far enough to reach the tumor, without getting eliminated by the body. 在血液里自由行动，畅通无阻，直到抵达肿瘤细胞。

Second, this layer contains molecules which bind⁷ specifically to our tumor cell. 第二，这层保护膜含有一些分子，专门用来与肿瘤细胞结合。

Once bound, the cancer cell takes up the nanoparticle, 一旦结合，癌细胞就会把纳米粒子吸收，

and now we have our nanoparticle inside the cancer cell and ready to deploy. 这样我们的纳米粒子最终就会进入癌细胞，准备发起进攻。

Alright! I feel the same way. Let's go! 是啊！我也觉得很兴奋。继续！

 

1 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

2 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

5 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

6 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

7 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。