Science in Action: A New Approach to Gentle Cancer Treatment Using Light and Nanotechnology
Researchers from the United States have developed a revolutionary method to combat cancer that promises to significantly advance current therapies.
For decades, doctors relied on chemotherapy and radiation therapy to save lives, but these methods are often associated with severe side effects and damage to healthy tissues.
The new approach leverages special nanoplates made of tin oxide (SnOx) combined with near-infrared LED illumination, enabling the precise and gentle destruction of cancer cells.
These nanoplates absorb infrared light and convert it into heat, which effectively kills tumor cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
Implementing this technique in clinical practice could reduce complications and make cancer treatment less invasive and more accessible.
Unlike traditional laser-based photothermal treatments, which require expensive equipment and pose risks to healthy tissue, this innovative method uses affordable and portable LEDs to produce more uniform heating.
In laboratory experiments, this approach achieved a 92% kill rate for skin cancer cells and 50% for colorectal cancer cells within just half an hour, leaving healthy cells virtually unaffected.
As biomedical sciences continue to evolve, such breakthroughs hold great promise for transforming cancer therapies, making them safer, more effective, and more patient-friendly.