A team of scientists from Rice University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas has developed a revolutionary method to destroy cancer cells using specially designed molecules. The approach, which involves stimulating aminocyanine molecules with near-infrared light, has been described as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, offering a new, mechanical way to target cancer cells.
Aminocyanine molecules, already used in bioimaging for detecting cancer, have now been shown to break apart cancer cell membranes when activated. The molecules vibrate in sync with near-infrared light, creating enough force to destroy the cells. This method was found to have a 99% success rate in lab-grown cancer cells and proved effective in mice with melanoma tumors, with half the animals becoming cancer-free after treatment.
New Generation of Molecular Machines
The research team has dubbed this new technology “molecular jackhammers.” These molecules are far more efficient than previous cancer-killing molecular machines, such as Feringa-type motors, which also used mechanical motion to destroy cells. According to chemist James Tour from Rice University, the molecular jackhammers are “more than one million times faster in their mechanical motion” and can be activated by near-infrared light, a significant improvement over the visible light used by earlier models.
The use of near-infrared light allows for deeper penetration into the body, potentially enabling the treatment of cancers in bones and internal organs without invasive surgery. The molecules’ structure and chemical properties allow them to stay synchronized under the right stimulus, creating a coordinated vibration that shatters cancer cells’ membranes.
How It Works
When the aminocyanine molecules are stimulated, electrons within the molecules form plasmons vibrating entities that move across the entire molecule. These plasmons generate the mechanical force that tears apart cancer cell membranes. Chemist Ciceron Ayala-Orozco from Rice University emphasized the novelty of the discovery: “This is the first time a molecular plasmon is utilized in this way to excite the whole molecule and produce mechanical action to achieve a particular goal – in this case, tearing apart cancer cells’ membrane.”
The molecules also have an arm-like structure that helps them attach to the cancer cells, enhancing the effectiveness of the vibrations.
Promising Future for Cancer Treatment
While the research is still in its early stages, the results are promising. The molecular jackhammer technique offers a biomechanical approach to cancer treatment that cancer cells are unlikely to develop resistance against, unlike traditional therapies such as chemotherapy. The team is now exploring other molecules that may be similarly used in cancer treatment.
As the research progresses, this innovative technology could revolutionize how cancer is treated, providing a non-invasive, highly effective alternative to current methods.
This study marks a significant step forward in the fight against cancer, opening the door to new, more effective treatments that leverage the power of molecular mechanics.
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