A new, inexpensive cancer treatment utilizing LED light and tin oxide nanoflakes is demonstrating significant promise in precisely targeting and destroying malignant cells with minimal side effects, potentially revolutionizing global access to therapy.
Developed by a collaborative research team from the University of Texas at Austin in the United States and the University of Porto in Portugal, the method marks a departure from conventional, often debilitating, cancer therapies. This innovative approach directs infrared light from LED bulbs onto specialized tin oxide nanoflakes.
The interaction between the infrared light and these tiny flakes generates localized heat. This thermal energy is sufficient to eliminate cancer cells, critically leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.
“Our goal is to create an effective, safe, and easily accessible treatment for everyone,” said Professor Jean Anne Incorvia of the University of Texas at Austin. She explained that combining LED light with nanoflakes allows for precise targeting of cancerous cells without affecting normal ones.
Published in the journal ACS Nano, early study results showed robust efficacy. Just 30 minutes of light exposure destroyed 92% of skin cancer cells and approximately 50% of colon cancer cells. Normal skin cells remained undamaged, highlighting the technique’s precision and safety.
Artur Pinto, the lead researcher from Portugal, emphasized the treatment’s potential for widespread adoption. “Our ultimate goal is to make this technology available everywhere, especially in underserved areas, with fewer side effects and lower costs,” Pinto stated. He envisions a future where cancer treatment could even be administered at home. He suggested placing a device at the site of a surgically removed tumor for repeated light exposure, aiming to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk.
Current primary cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are effective but inflict considerable hardship on patients. These can include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, and a compromised immune system.
The research team has already secured additional funding to advance the development of an implantable device specifically for breast cancer patients. This project forms part of a broader “Deep Tech for Health” collaboration that began in 2021.