An innovative cancer treatment technique, which uses a combination of infrared LEDs and tiny flakes of tin, could change the way we deal with tumors forever. According to a study published in ACS Nanothis technology managed to destroy up to 92% of skin cancer cells and almost half of colon cancer cells, in just 30 minutes, without touching healthy tissue.
How LED and SnOx based photothermal therapy works
This new therapy is based on the use of near-infrared LEDs and tin oxide (SnOx) nanoflakes. These microstructures, thinner than 20 nanometers, are activated by an 810 nanometer LED light, transforming into small “stoves” capable of burning only tumor cells. The key to the treatment is precision: while healthy cells remain intact, diseased ones are overheated and neutralized.
The production process is environmentally friendly, economical and scalable: the nanoflakes are obtained through a simple water-based method that transforms tin disulfide into tin oxide. The result? A photothermal yield of 93%, among the highest ever obtained with similar materials.
Because tumors “swallow” nanoparticles more easily
Cancer cells, due to their accelerated growth and more permeable membranes, tend to absorb and retain nanoparticles much more easily than healthy cells. This phenomenon, known as the EPR (enhanced permeability and retention) effect, allows nanoflakes to selectively accumulate in cancerous tissues.
Thus, when the LED light hits the tumor area, only the cells filled with nanoflakes heat up and die. The rest of the organism is not damaged. Unlike high-power lasers, which can affect even healthy tissue, the use of low-intensity LEDs ensures safe and non-invasive therapy.
Towards a more accessible and less invasive treatment for all
According to Jean Anne Incorvia, a professor at the University of Texas, the team’s goal was clear from the beginning:
Create an effective, safe and accessible treatment for everyone.
Artur Pinto, head of the project in Portugal, also dreams of a portable version of the device: a small instrument to be applied to the skin after surgery, to eliminate any tumor residues and prevent recurrences.
The idea is to make photothermal therapy not only effective, but also democratic, designed to be used everywhere, even where healthcare resources are limited.
The next steps: from laboratories to patients
For the moment, the tests have only been conducted in cell cultures, but the results are extremely promising. The next phases involve experiments on animals and, subsequently, clinical studies on humans. The journey will be long, but the direction is clear: to offer new hope for millions of cancer patients around the world.
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, with nearly 10 million deaths each year. Therapies like this could complement — and in some cases replace — chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reducing side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.
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