Rice University scientists have made a breakthrough in cancer treatment by utilizing the power of molecular vibrations to eliminate cancer cells. They have achieved a 99 percent success rate in destroying cancer cell membranes by stimulating small dye molecules with near-infrared light. This innovative technique, known as “molecular jackhammers”, offers a faster and distinct approach to cancer treatment. The research, conducted in collaboration with multiple institutions, represents a significant advancement in the field of cancer therapy.
The scientists found that when certain molecules are stimulated by near-infrared light, they can vibrate in unison, causing the rupture of cancerous cell membranes. This breakthrough has shown a 99 percent efficiency against lab cultures of human melanoma cells, leading to half of the mice with melanoma tumors becoming cancer-free after treatment.
James Tour, a chemist at Rice University, described this new generation of molecular machines as “molecular jackhammers.” These jackhammers, made of aminocyanine molecules, employ a novel mechanism of action, different from the nanoscale drills based on molecular motors. They are over one million times faster in their mechanical motion and can be activated with near-infrared light, which can penetrate far deeper into the body without damaging tissue.
The aminocyanine molecules, commonly used as synthetic dyes for medical imaging, are biocompatible and stable in water. Their ability to attach to the fatty outer lining of cells makes them suitable for cancer treatment. He emphasized that this study represents a different way to treat cancer using mechanical forces at the molecular scale.
This groundbreaking research was supported by Nanorobotics, Ltd., the Discovery Institute, and the Welch Foundation.
