Scientists at the University of Notre Dame have developed a wireless LED device that promises to revolutionize cancer treatment. This innovative device, combined with a light-sensitive dye, can be implanted in the body to destroy cancer cells and mobilize the body’s immune response. This advancement is particularly significant for deep-seated cancers, which have been inaccessible to light-based treatments until now.
The study, published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, reveals that certain colors of light, such as green, although not deeply penetrating, can induce a more robust response against cancer cells. For the light to be effective, a dye must first be administered to the cells. When the device is activated, the dye converts the light into energy, making the oxygen within the cells toxic and effectively turning the cancer cells against themselves.
In addition to destroying cancer cells, the device induces a specific form of cell death called pyroptosis, which is particularly effective at triggering the immune response. According to Professor Bradley Smith, this discovery was made possible by the keen observations of graduate students Hailey Sanders and SungHoon Rho, who noticed that the treated cells were swelling, a hallmark of pyroptosis.
The device, which is the size of a grain of rice, can be injected directly into the tumor and activated remotely by an external antenna. This allows not only for the delivery of treatment but also for monitoring the tumor’s response, adjusting the signal strength and timing as needed.
This project is one of four funded by the first Seed Transformative Interdisciplinary Research (STIR) grants, initiated in 2023 by Notre Dame’s College of Science and College of Engineering. These grants are designed to jumpstart research projects in human health, the environment, and information technologies. With this new advancement, future studies will aim to determine whether the immune response triggered in one tumor can identify and attack other cancerous tumors in the body.
Article written by Karla Cruise
09/07/2024
Source:
Harper Cancer news
https://harpercancer.nd.edu/news-events/news/implantable-led-device-uses-light-to-treat-deep-seated-cancers/