Researchers from Rice University in Texas reported that the method, called "molecular jackhammers" (MHJ), can be used to eliminate tumors.
In the MHJ method, a cyanine dye similar to that used in medical imaging procedures is injected into the body. Once bound to a cancer cell, the dye is activated by an infrared light that can penetrate deep into the body without harming it.
These signals cause the cancer cell to vibrate, rupturing the cell membrane and destroying the cancer.
FEWER SIDE EFFECTS
Ciceron Ayala Orozco, the lead author of the study, said the technology has only been tested on mice for now and works in principle. Experiments on humans can only be carried out years later, the academic said.
Orozco also said that MHJ technology will cause far fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy used in cancer treatment.
CANCEROUS CELLS COMPLETELY DESTROYED
James Tour of Rice University reported that in their experiments on mice with melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, cancer cells were completely destroyed in half of the animals.
The researcher added that this technology can also be used to detect cancerous cell remnants in the body.
