{"id":1050,"date":"2025-10-16T15:07:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T15:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/?p=1050"},"modified":"2025-10-16T15:07:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T15:07:50","slug":"breakthrough-led-therapy-destroys-92-of-skin-cancer-cells-in-just-30-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/?p=1050","title":{"rendered":"Breakthrough LED Therapy Destroys 92% of Skin Cancer Cells in Just 30 Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"7a19b57d3f502e506f541b4c6899bb20\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n\tatOptions = {\r\n\t\t'key' : '763760c8ca37b90150f32ad474f817c0',\r\n\t\t'format' : 'iframe',\r\n\t\t'height' : 250,\r\n\t\t'width' : 300,\r\n\t\t'params' : {}\r\n\t};\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/electthirteenth.com\/763760c8ca37b90150f32ad474f817c0\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>A new light-based cancer therapy could revolutionize how we treat skin cancer \u2014 and maybe even make at-home cancer care possible one day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto have developed an innovative LED-based treatment that successfully killed 92% of skin cancer cells in just 30 minutes, while leaving healthy cells completely unharmed. The breakthrough could mark a major step toward safer, more affordable, and non-invasive cancer therapies.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A Safer, Smarter Way to Target Cancer Cells<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and laser therapy often come with serious side effects. Chemotherapy drugs can harm healthy cells throughout the body, while laser-based phototherapies require expensive equipment and precise handling to avoid tissue damage.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This new approach changes the game. Researchers designed a special material called tin oxide nanoflakes (SnOx nanoflakes) that react to near-infrared (NIR) LED light \u2014 a safe and low-cost light source similar to what\u2019s used in many medical and cosmetic devices.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When exposed to this LED light, the nanoflakes rapidly heat up, destroying cancer cells through a process known as photothermal therapy (PTT). The key difference is precision \u2014 the nanoflakes only heat and kill cancer cells, leaving healthy ones untouched.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In laboratory tests, the method eliminated 92% of skin cancer cells and about 50% of colorectal cancer cells within half an hour. Even more promising, there was no measurable damage to surrounding healthy tissue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>LEDs Over Lasers: A Major Leap Forward<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unlike traditional laser phototherapy, which requires specialized facilities and trained professionals, this new LED-based system is low-cost, portable, and safe for everyday use. LEDs produce less concentrated light but are much easier to handle and scale up for larger applications.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>According to the research team, this accessibility could allow for a new generation of cancer treatments that patients could use outside hospitals or even at home under medical supervision.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause LEDs are inexpensive, compact, and operate at safe power levels, this method could be developed into simple, handheld or wearable devices,\u201d explained Dr. Artur Pinto, co-lead researcher from the University of Porto. \u201cOne day, patients could use this technology after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>How It Works<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a closer look at what makes this technique so unique:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. Nanoflakes Design: The SnOx nanoflakes are created through a special electrochemical process using tin sulfide (SnS\u2082). This gives them properties that make them highly efficient at converting light into heat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>2. Near-Infrared Activation: When illuminated with near-infrared LED light, these nanoflakes generate localized heat precisely where cancer cells are present.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>3. Selective Targeting: Cancer cells are more sensitive to heat than normal cells, allowing the therapy to destroy tumors while sparing healthy tissue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This combination of selectivity, safety, and simplicity could make the technology suitable for clinical use and personal medical devices in the future.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Why It Matters<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cancer remains one of the world\u2019s deadliest diseases, claiming millions of lives each year. While modern treatments have improved survival rates, the side effects often leave patients weak and vulnerable. A therapy that can selectively target cancer without harming the body could dramatically improve quality of life during and after treatment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the low cost of LED equipment means this technology could be made affordable and accessible worldwide, including in low-resource regions where traditional cancer therapies are out of reach.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The researchers emphasize that while the results are extremely encouraging, further studies \u2014 including animal and human clinical trials \u2014 are still needed before it becomes a standard treatment. But the early findings show a powerful new direction for non-invasive cancer therapy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Future of Light-Based Medicine<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The development of LED-powered photothermal therapy highlights how nanotechnology and medical engineering are converging to create smarter, safer, and more personalized healthcare solutions. If scaled successfully, this discovery could lead to wearable cancer-fighting patches or post-surgery healing devices that patients can use in the comfort of their homes.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This research opens the door to a future where cancer treatment is not only effective but also gentle, affordable, and accessible to all.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Source:<\/p>\n<p>Chang, H.-P., Silva, F. A. L. S., Nance, E., Fernandes, J. R., Santos, S. G., Magalh\u00e3es, F. D., Pinto, A. M., &amp; Incorvia, J. A. C. (2025). SnOx Nanoflakes as Enhanced Near-Infrared Photothermal Therapy Agents Synthesized from Electrochemically Oxidized SnS\u2082 Powders. ACS Nano.<\/p>\n<!--CusAds0-->\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new light-based cancer therapy could revolutionize how we treat skin cancer \u2014 and maybe even make at-home cancer care possible one day. &nbsp; Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto have developed an innovative LED-based treatment that successfully killed 92% of skin cancer cells in just 30 minutes,\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/?p=1050\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-science"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1050"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1052,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050\/revisions\/1052"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.science.sbtechem.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}