Alternative treatment to chemotherapy developed
Scientists in the US have developed a cancer treatment that could serve as an alternative to chemotherapy, thanks to nanotechnology.
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Researchers at Rice University in Texas have reported that a method they call "molecular jackhammers" (MHJ) could be used to eliminate tumors.
In the MHJ method, a cyanine dye, similar to those used in medical imaging, is injected into the body. Once this dye binds to a cancer cell, it is activated by infrared light that can penetrate deep into the body without causing harm.
These signals cause the cancer cell to vibrate, rupturing the cell membrane and destroying the cancer.
The lead author of the study, Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, stated that the technology has so far only been tested on mice and works in principle. The academic noted that human trials could only be conducted years from now.
According to TRT Haber, Orozco also stated that the MHJ technology would cause far fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy used in cancer treatment. James Tour from Rice University reported that in their experiments on mice with melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, the cancer cells were completely eliminated in half of the animals.
The researcher said they are continuing their work so that this technology can also be used to detect residual cancer cells in the body.