Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto in Portugal have made a breakthrough in cancer treatment by developing a new, light-based therapy that kills tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. The innovative approach uses tin oxide nanoflakes to convert near-infrared light into heat, which is then targeted at cancer cells with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
The researchers created the nanomaterials and tested them using LED technology, emitting light at a specific wavelength that was safe for biological tissues. In just 30 minutes, this treatment killed up to 92 percent of skin cancer cells and 50 percent of colorectal cancer cells without harming healthy skin cells or other tissues.
This breakthrough offers hope for the design of new photothermal therapies, which are non-invasive procedures that use light to heat and kill cancer cells. The researchers believe their material could improve these treatments by offering greater thermal efficiency, biocompatibility, and affordability than existing alternatives.
Their goal was to create a treatment that is both effective and safe, and they seem to have succeeded. "Our ultimate goal is to make this technology available to patients everywhere," said Artur Pinto, a researcher at the University of Porto's School of Engineering. "We envision that one day the treatment could be moved from the hospital to the patientโs home, reducing the risk of recurrence."
The researchers' innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
The researchers created the nanomaterials and tested them using LED technology, emitting light at a specific wavelength that was safe for biological tissues. In just 30 minutes, this treatment killed up to 92 percent of skin cancer cells and 50 percent of colorectal cancer cells without harming healthy skin cells or other tissues.
This breakthrough offers hope for the design of new photothermal therapies, which are non-invasive procedures that use light to heat and kill cancer cells. The researchers believe their material could improve these treatments by offering greater thermal efficiency, biocompatibility, and affordability than existing alternatives.
Their goal was to create a treatment that is both effective and safe, and they seem to have succeeded. "Our ultimate goal is to make this technology available to patients everywhere," said Artur Pinto, a researcher at the University of Porto's School of Engineering. "We envision that one day the treatment could be moved from the hospital to the patientโs home, reducing the risk of recurrence."
The researchers' innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.