Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have made significant strides in cancer treatment by developing microscopic metal particles capable of selectively killing cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This groundbreaking research, which remains at the cell-culture stage, has not yet been tested in animals or humans, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
The innovative particles, referred to as nanodots, are constructed from molybdenum oxide, a compound derived from the rare metal molybdenum, commonly utilized in electronics and alloys. By modifying their chemical structure, the researchers have enabled these particles to emit reactive oxygen molecules. These unstable oxygen forms can inflict damage on cancer cells, prompting their self-destruction.
In laboratory tests, the nanodots demonstrated remarkable efficacy, killing three times more cervical cancer cells than healthy cells within a 24-hour period. This effect was achieved without the need for light, which is atypical for technologies that depend on oxidative stress. The findings were published in the journal Advanced Science.
“Cancer cells already live under higher stress than healthy ones. Our particles push that stress a little further, enough to trigger self-destruction in cancer cells, while healthy cells cope just fine,” stated Zhang Baoyue, the first author from the RMIT School of Engineering. “The result was particles that generate oxidative stress selectively in cancer cells under lab conditions,” Zhang added.
Traditional cancer treatments often damage both cancerous and healthy tissues. However, the ability to selectively stress cancer cells could lead to more targeted and less toxic therapies, according to the research team. Additionally, the use of common metal oxides instead of expensive or toxic noble metals like gold or silver suggests that these particles could be more cost-effective and safer to produce.
This research represents a promising new direction in the pursuit of effective cancer treatments, harnessing the inherent weaknesses of cancer cells to develop therapies that minimize harm to healthy tissue.
