Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital have developed a groundbreaking method to destroy tumor cells using infrared light and gold nanoparticles embedded in silicone wafers. The process, which targets breast cancer cells, could offer a non-invasive alternative to surgery and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy if proven successful in human clinical trials.

The research, led by Dr. Haifa Shen and Dr. Jian You, was featured in the inaugural issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials, a Wiley journal.

How Does It Work?

Hollow gold nanoparticles generate heat when exposed to infrared laser light. While gold nanoparticles have been tested for cancer therapies before, previous results required large quantities of particles, limiting their efficiency.

To overcome this, the researchers embedded the gold nanoparticles in porous silicone wafers. This innovative approach, pioneered by Mauro Ferrari, significantly increased the heat generation of the nanoparticles. When exposed to 808 nm infrared light, the gold-laden silicone wafers raised the surrounding solution’s temperature by 20°C, with even higher localized temperatures near the wafers.

Targeting Tumor Cells

The study focused on three types of breast cancer cells: MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 (human), and 4T1 (mouse). The results showed a significant reduction in tumor cell proliferation when the nanoparticles were illuminated.

The silicone wafers were engineered with precise properties to ensure selective binding to cancer cells. The size, shape, and surface chemistry of the silicone particles were meticulously optimized. If the particles were too large or incorrectly shaped, they either bound to multiple cell types or failed to bind at all. Polymine structures were added to enhance the wafers’ solubility and affinity for cancer cells. The wafers were about 1 micron in diameter—tiny compared to the typical 10-12 micron size of breast cancer cells.

Why Gold and Silicone?

Both gold and silicone are non-toxic and widely used in medical nanotechnology. Gold is chemically inert, while silicone breaks down into acid, which is safely excreted through the kidneys.

Gold’s ability to convert absorbed infrared light into heat (known as vibrational energy) makes it ideal for this application. The size and volume of the gold nanoparticles are critical, as they must interact precisely with the infrared wavelength used. The wavelength is also adjusted depending on the tumor’s depth—shorter wavelengths for surface-level tumors and longer ones for deeper growths.

A Safer, More Effective Treatment

Infrared light is significantly safer than shorter wavelengths like UV or X-rays, making this method less harmful to healthy tissues. The combination of silicone and gold provides a targeted and efficient heat-generation system that minimizes damage to surrounding cells.

The Road Ahead

Dr. Shen and her team plan to expand their research to determine whether this silicone-gold nanotechnology can eliminate entire tumors, not just cancer cells. Future studies will also explore combining this technique with chemotherapy to reduce the amount of drugs needed while maintaining or enhancing their effectiveness.

If successful, this innovative approach could revolutionize cancer treatment by offering a minimally invasive, highly targeted alternative to traditional methods. It represents a significant step forward in harnessing nanotechnology for medical breakthroughs.

Source: Medicalonline

Instant

News & Updated Blogs

X