Scientists have developed a technology that mechanically destroys cancer cells without chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. The results were published in the journal Advanced Science.
The method relies on what researchers call molecular jackhammers, built from aminocyanine molecules that have long been used in medicine as dyes for imaging tissue. When exposed to near-infrared light, the molecules vibrate at a frequency of about 40 trillion times per second. Those vibrations tear apart the membrane of a cancer cell, killing it within minutes.
Lab and animal results
In laboratory experiments, the new method destroyed up to 99 percent of cancer cells. In tests on mice with melanoma, half of the animals were completely cleared of their tumors. Researchers noted that because the technique uses infrared light, it could potentially reach tumors located deep within tissue and internal organs.
Early stage, no human trials yet
The authors stressed that the technology is still at an early stage of development and has not yet been tested on humans. Because the method destroys cells mechanically rather than acting on their biochemistry, they said the likelihood of cancer developing resistance to the treatment is significantly lower.
