Developed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, the devices delivers tiny quantities of palladium, not naturally found in human cells. The metal helps trigger reactions in the cell without altering everyday cell functions, such as producing proteins and metabolising energy.

Professor Mark Bradley of the University School of Chemistry, who led the research said: "This technique potentially gives us the ability to deliver drugs to exactly where they are needed, for example in targeting cancerous tumours."

Researchers encased palladium particles in a harmless coating able to enter live cells. They found in the lab, that the metal was able to trigger specific cell reactions without any effect elsewhere.

Although the research is early stage, scientists believe the technique will allow therapeutic use of palladium to manipulate cell activity and produce substances, such as drugs, without affecting the rest of the body.

Published in Nature Chemistry, the study was carried out in collaboration with the  Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Royal Society, the Government of Malaysia and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

The technology could pave the way delivering therapies where needed in the body, and also be used to deliver diagnostic test dyes to organs.