US successfully tested to destroy 99% of cancer cells

On Wednesday (December 27), Science Alert reported that scientists from Rice University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas (USA) have successfully tested a new method that can destroy up to 99% of cancer cells by using synchronized vibrations to break down the cancer cell membrane.

My successful experiment with a method to destroy 99 cancer cells image 1 — Illustration of cancer cells. Photo: Corbis

Specifically, this method uses near-infrared light to excite aminocyanine molecules - a fluorescent dye commonly used in medicine, causing the electrons inside them to vibrate in unison (plasmon oscillation), enough to break the cancer cell membrane.

According to the study, each plasmon will have an "arm" on one side, helping to connect the molecules to the cancer cell membrane. Therefore, when vibration occurs, they will be separated from each other.

As a result, 99% of human malignant tumor cells grown in the lab were killed. The team said the new method marks a significant improvement over other previously developed cancer-killing methods.

Although it is only the first step, this method brings great hope to patients with cancer in organs that are difficult to treat completely, such as bone cancer.

"This is the first time a molecular plasmon has been used in this way to excite an entire molecule and create a mechanical impact that is specific to a target, in this case tearing apart the membrane of a cancer cell," said team member Ceceron Ayala-Orozco, a chemist at Rice University.

According to the study published in the journal Nature Chemistry, this type of biomechanical engineering is simple but has the unique advantage of making it difficult for cancer cells to develop treatment resistance. The researchers are now looking at other types of molecules with similar potential applications, as well as moving to the next stage of testing, including animal testing and clinical trials.

Ngoc Anh (according to Science Alert)

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