Photo: Tel Aviv University
Cancer treatment has come a long way, but most existing methods still take a heavy toll on patients — physically, mentally, and financially. Chemotherapy and radiation can save lives but often damage healthy cells along with malignant ones.
Now, American researchers have introduced a new light-based approach that could change the fight against cancer, reports Science Alert. The method combines near-infrared LED light with nanoscale tin oxide flakes, known as SnOx nanoplates, which selectively destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. This represents a major advance in phototherapy, a technique that uses light to heat and destroy tumors.
Unlike traditional photothermal systems that rely on expensive lasers, this approach uses affordable, widely available LEDs, reducing collateral damage to surrounding tissue and offering a potentially safer, less invasive alternative to chemotherapy or radiation.
The technique works by targeting SnOx nanoplates to cancer cells. When illuminated, these nanoplates act as microscopic heaters, generating heat that destroys cancer cell proteins and membranes, while healthy cells remain largely unaffected.
Laboratory experiments showed that within 30 minutes, the method destroyed 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of colorectal cancer cells, leaving healthy human skin cells intact.
Traditional laser-based photothermal therapy can precisely focus light deep into tissues but carries a higher risk of damaging healthy cells and requires costly, specialized equipment. By contrast, LEDs emit gentler, broad-spectrum light, providing more uniform heating and fewer side effects. Their low cost and portability make them suitable for both clinical and potential home use.
This breakthrough adds to ongoing efforts in biomedicine to develop therapies that help the immune system identify and fight cancer cells. As microbiologist Oksana Mankovska notes, recent advances in cancer research are already saving lives and undergoing clinical trials.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment.
