In the fight anticancer drugs, an crucial area of research is the search for secure alternatives to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These treatments attack both cancer cells and robust cells, exposing patients to solemn side effects.
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto in Portugal have just brought the alternative one step closer. They have developed materials that can efficiently and safely convert near-infrared (NIR) delicate into heat that can be effectively directed against cancer cells. Their materials are tin oxide (SnOX) nanoflakes, petite particles less than 20 nanometers chunky (a nanometer is one thousandth of a millionth of a meter).
The team’s findings published in the journal ACS Nanoprovide modern hope in the design of photothermal therapies, as this type of light-based treatments are called.
Photothermal therapy is a non-invasive procedure that involves heating cancer cells to destroy them. It works by infiltrating cancer cells with materials that absorb delicate and turn it into heat – in this case, SnOX nanoflakes – which can be designed to accumulate specifically in cancer tissues. They are then exposed to delicate at a wavelength that gives the materials the energy needed to produce heat that kills cancer but does not damage robust tissue.
Scientists propose that their SnOX nanoflakes could improve this type of processing by offering greater thermal efficiency, biocompatibility, and affordability than other materials used in such processes.
“Our goal was to create a treatment that was not only effective, but also safe and accessible,” said Jean Anne Incorvia, a professor of engineering at UT and one of the project leaders, in press statement. “Thanks to the combination of LED and SnO lightX nanoflakes, we have developed a method to precisely target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.”
To assess the thermal efficiency of the modern material, the team developed an original system based on near-infrared LEDs (NIR-LEDs), which emit delicate with a wavelength of 810 nanometers, which is secure for biological tissues. Unlike classic laser systems, NIR-LEDs provide more uniform and stable illumination, reduce the risk of overheating and require minimal investment. The entire experimental setup, capable of irradiating up to 24 samples simultaneously, cost approximately $530, making it an inexpensive and versatile tool for biomedical research.
Results of NIR irradiation on SnOX-treated cancer cells were encouraging. UT reported that in just 30 minutes of exposure, the method killed up to 92 percent of skin cancer cells and 50 percent of colon cancer cells. This was achieved without any harmful effects on robust skin cells, demonstrating the safety and selectivity of this approach.