A groundbreaking new cancer treatment uses LED light and tin nanoflakes to kill tumors with stunning precision-destroying up to 92% of cancer cells in just 30 minutes without harming healthy tissue.
Developed by researchers in Texas and Portugal, the therapy relies on ultra-thin flakes of oxidized tin (SnOx) that are activated by near-infrared LED light. Once triggered, the flakes heat up just enough to kill nearby cancer cells-making it a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy and radiation, which often damage surrounding healthy tissue.
In lab tests, the light-and-tin therapy wiped out nearly all skin cancer cells and 50% of colorectal cancer cells while leaving human skin cells untouched. Unlike earlier photothermal therapies that required expensive lasers, this system uses affordable LEDs and common materials, paving the way for accessible, portable treatments. Researchers envision wearable patches or post-surgical implants that could target lingering cancer cells-even in low-resource settings. By combining affordability, safety, and effectiveness, this innovation could revolutionize cancer care worldwide.
Source: SnOx Nanoflakes as Enhanced Near-Infrared Photothermal Therapy Agents Synthesized from Electrochemically Oxidized SnS₂ Powders, ACS
