United States: Researchers have found a novel method for eliminating cancer cells. When near-infrared light was used to stimulate aminocyanine molecules, the resulting synchronised vibrations were strong enough to rupture cancer cell membranes.
Currently, synthetic dyes containing aminocyanine molecules are used in bioimaging. They are stable in water and have excellent cell surface adhesion, making them a popular choice for low-dosage cancer detection.
The new strategy, according to the research team from Rice University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas, is a significant advancement over another type of molecular device that was previously developed that kills cancer and is known as Feringa-type motors. Feringa-type motors can break the structures of problematic cells.
“It is a whole new generation of molecular machines that we call molecular jackhammers,” stated Mr. James Tour from Rice University.
“They are more than one million times faster in their mechanical motion than the former Feringa-type motors, and they can be activated with near-infrared light rather than visible light,” Mr. Tour added.
Since it allows researchers to penetrate further into the body, near-infrared light is crucial. It may be possible to treat cancer in the bones and organs without requiring surgery to reach the cancerous growth.
“What needs to be highlighted is that we’ve discovered another explanation for how these molecules can work,” Mr. Ciceron Ayala-Orozco from Rice University remarked.
“This is the first time a molecular plasmon is utilised in this way to excite the whole molecule and to actually produce mechanical action used to achieve a particular goal – in this case, tearing apart cancer cells’ membrane. This study is about a different way to treat cancer using mechanical forces at the molecular scale,” said Mr. Ayala-Orozco.
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