Near-infrared light ruptures cancerous cells with 99 per cent effectiveness

Near-infrared light ruptures cancerous cells with 99 per cent effectiveness

Medical scientists and researchers have been dedicating substantial efforts to developing a cure for cancer, a lethal disease causing millions of deaths annually.

A collaborative team of experts from Rice University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas has achieved a groundbreaking discovery. They’ve uncovered a method to eradicate cancer cells by utilizing the distinct properties of specific molecules to produce powerful vibrations under light stimulation.

The study, as published in Nature Chemistry, demonstrated a remarkable 99 percent effectiveness of the method against laboratory cultures of human melanoma cells. Additionally, half of the mice that were treated for melanoma tumors became free of cancer following the treatment.

Rice chemist James Tour, describing the innovation, stated, “It is a completely new generation of molecular machines that we refer to as molecular jackhammers.” He highlighted his laboratory’s prior work involving nanoscale compounds equipped with a chain of atoms resembling a paddle, activated by light, which continuously spins in a singular direction. This mechanism allows these compounds to penetrate the outer membrane of infectious bacteria, cancer cells, and fungi resistant to treatment.

In contrast to nanoscale drills inspired by Nobel laureate Bernard Feringa’s molecular motors, molecular jackhammers operate through an entirely novel mechanism.

“They are over a million times faster in their mechanical movement compared to the former Feringa-type motors, and they can be activated using near-infrared light rather than visible light,” stated Mr. Tour.

Near-infrared light possesses the ability to penetrate much deeper into the human body than visible light, reaching organs or bones without causing tissue damage.

“Near-infrared light can penetrate up to 10 centimeters into the human body, unlike visible light, which reaches only half a centimeter – the depth we previously used to activate the nanodrills,” explained Mr. Tour, who holds the position of Rice’s T T and W F Chao Professor of Chemistry and is a professor of materials science and nanoengineering. “This represents a significant advancement.”