South Korean researchers have developed the world's first medical nanorobot that can detect and actively treat cancer.
 
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning announced Monday that a team from Chonnam National University led by Professor Park Jong-oh developed the so-called "Bacteriobot."
 
The ministry said the bacteria-based microrobot can be used to treat and diagnose solid tumors such as breast, stomach, liver and colorectal cancers. 
 
The team created the robot by combining bacteria and a new system to actively deliver anticancer drugs to cancer cells. The team said it tested the system on animals with tumors.
 
The ministry said it believes the Bacteriobot will be able to detect cancer and inject anti-tumor agents into the cancer cells in early stages.