This Rice-Sized LED Device Uses Light to Destroy Deep Seated Cancers
The new cancer therapy is in the offing, and it has been developed by scientists at the University of Notre Dame.
They have created a very small LED device that can be implanted to fight deep-tissue cancers with light.
In contrast to the conventional photodynamic therapies that are unable to affect tumors located deep in the body, the new device irradiates the affected cells with light.
When the light-sensitive dye is mixed with the LED, the device releases a two-fold assault on the tumor.
“Certain colors of light penetrate tissue deeper than other ones,” said Thomas O’Sullivan, associate professor of electrical engineering and co-author of the paper.
The light makes the dye release the cancer cells oxygen as a toxic compound and at the same time triggers cell death known as pyroptosis.
Pyroptosis is most efficient in raising the immune response to the cancer danger signal.
The device’s capacity to enter the tissue with certain colors of light, including the green one, increases its efficiency in killing cancer cells and provoking an immune response.
When it is in place, the device is remotely switched on and this causes the release of energy that affects the cancer cells to commit suicide.
But how it works?
Well, here's what they say:
“Our goal is to induce just a little bit of pyroptotic cell death, which will then trigger the immune system to start attacking the cancer.” shared in the official press release.
This revolutionary technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a host of primary or secondary malignancies located deeper in the body.
Scientists are now using mice to experiment on the device to determine whether it could encourage the immune system to target subsequent tumors.
Apart from being a therapeutic tool, it serves as a monitoring tool through which doctors can observe the tumor’s response and make necessary adjustments.
This kind of cancer treatment is a giant leap towards the fight against this deadly disease since it is tailored to fit the individual patient.
