Rethinking the Cost of Conventional Cancer Therapies
Cancer treatment has long involved a difficult trade-off. While chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery save lives, they often damage healthy tissues along with tumours. In effect, this harm is not merely a side effect but an inherent cost of treatment.
However, a study published in ACS Nano in September 2025 by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto suggests that this trade-off may not be inevitable.
A Targeted Approach Using Nanotechnology and Light
Researchers have developed an innovative method that combines near-infrared LED light with microscopic tin oxide particles known as SnOx nanoflakes. Each nanoflake measures less than 20 nanometers in thickness.
Importantly, cancer cells absorb and retain nanoparticles more efficiently than healthy cells. Because of their higher permeability and rapid division, tumour cells accumulate these particles in greater concentrations—a phenomenon known as the enhanced permeability and retention effect. As a result, the nanoflakes selectively concentrate within tumours rather than spreading through healthy tissue.
How the Technology Works
When exposed to near-infrared LED light at 810 nanometers, the nanoflakes convert light into localised heat. Crucially, this heat is generated only where the particles have accumulated—inside the tumour.
In laboratory experiments, just 30 minutes of exposure destroyed up to 92% of skin carcinoma cells and around 50% of colorectal cancer cells. At the same time, healthy human skin fibroblasts showed no signs of cytotoxicity, highlighting the treatment’s precision and safety.
Expert Insight: Precision Without Harm
Jean Anne Incorvia, a professor at the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, explained that the goal was to create a treatment that is both effective and safe.
She emphasised that combining LED light with SnOx nanoflakes allows precise targeting of cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unaffected.
Advantages Over Conventional Photothermal Therapies
Although photothermal therapies already exist, they typically rely on lasers. These systems are expensive, require specialised infrastructure, and may damage surrounding tissues if not carefully controlled.
In contrast, LED-based systems are significantly more affordable and easier to deploy. Moreover, they do not cause collateral tissue damage at the intensities used in this approach.
Additionally, researchers produce the nanoflakes using a water-based, scalable, and low-cost synthesis process from tin disulfide, eliminating the need for rare or expensive materials.
Durability and Repeat Treatment Potential
As reported by Futura Sciences, the SnOx nanoflakes also demonstrated strong thermal stability across multiple heating cycles. This durability makes them suitable for repeated treatment sessions, which are often necessary in cancer therapy.
Towards Accessible and Patient-Friendly Cancer Care
Artur Pinto, lead researcher at the University of Porto, collaborated with the team through the UT Austin Portugal Program. Building on their findings, researchers have secured funding to develop an implant for breast cancer treatment using the same technology.
Looking ahead, they envision portable, home-based devices for conditions like skin cancer. Such devices could be used post-surgery to eliminate residual cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk, making treatment more accessible and less burdensome.
Current Limitations and Future Outlook
Despite promising results, the findings remain limited to laboratory studies and have not yet progressed to clinical trials. Therefore, significant research is still required before the technology can be applied in real-world patient care.
Nevertheless, this approach represents a fundamental shift. Instead of exposing the entire body to damage, it leverages tumour biology to localise treatment. Consequently, it holds the potential to make cancer therapy more precise, less invasive, and more patient-friendly in the future.