New Light-Sensitive Chemicals For Cancer Treatment
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, and Michigan State University recently developed new light-sensitive chemicals called cyanine-carborane salts. These chemicals can eliminate breast cancer tumours efficiently. In tests done on mice, these chemicals showed minimal side effects while completely eradicating metaplastic breast cancer tumours.
These chemicals were described in an article in Angewandte Chemie, a journal of the German Chemical Society. They offer a significant improvement over traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT), which has been in use for a long time.
Traditional photodynamic therapy works by flooding patients’ bodies with light-sensitive chemicals. Shining a light on the patients’ bodies activates the chemicals and kills diseased cells. However, traditional PDT agents have limitations like prolonged light sensitivity and lack to destroy deep-seated tumours.
While treating breast cancer, the new cyanine-carborane salts address all these challenges and flush out quickly, so patients don’t need to avoid sunlight for long.
Dr Vincent Lavallo, a UCR chemistry professor, stressed the precision of these new chemicals. He stated, “The most interesting thing is the targeting ability of this substance we made to go right where it’s needed and stay there while the rest passes through. That way, you’ll only kill the cells right where the cancer is but not harm the patient.” His team also collaborated to prepare the chemicals.
Researchers are encouraged by the promising results of cyanine-carborane salts. They are now finding ways to adapt these salts for use with alternative energy sources to penetrate even deeper into the body.
