A new approach to cancer treatment, utilizing light-activated nanotechnology, is showing promise as a more precise and potentially less harmful alternative to traditional methods like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed nanoparticles designed to deliver targeted heat to tumor cells when exposed to near-infrared light, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The research, published in Cell Reports, builds upon the concept of photothermal therapy. This treatment modality uses light to generate heat directly within tumors, effectively destroying cancer cells. However, a significant hurdle in photothermal therapy has been the efficient and stable delivery of light-responsive materials to the tumor site.
Many existing photothermal agents degrade quickly once inside the body, are rapidly cleared from the bloodstream, or struggle to effectively penetrate cancer cells. The NYU Abu Dhabi team addressed these challenges by creating nanoparticles composed of hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring mineral found in bones and teeth. This biocompatible and biodegradable material serves as a stable carrier for a dye that is activated by near-infrared light.
The nanoparticles are further enhanced with a coating of lipids and polymers. This coating serves a dual purpose: it prolongs the particles’ circulation time in the bloodstream, preventing premature removal by the immune system, and it facilitates their accumulation within tumors. Crucially, the nanoparticles are designed to exploit the unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment.
Tumors often exhibit a mildly acidic pH compared to healthy tissues. The researchers incorporated a peptide – a small protein – onto the surface of the nanoparticles that becomes activated in this acidic environment. This activation enhances the nanoparticles’ ability to enter cancer cells while largely avoiding healthy tissue, increasing the specificity of the treatment.
“This work brings together targeted treatment and imaging in a single, biocompatible and biodegradable system,” said Mazin Magzoub, senior author of the study and associate professor of biology at NYU Abu Dhabi. “By addressing key challenges in delivering therapeutic agents to tumors, our approach has the potential to improve cancer treatment precision.”
The study demonstrated that these nanoparticles are remarkably stable, effectively protecting the light-activated dye from degradation. They also accumulate efficiently within tumors. When exposed to near-infrared light, the nanoparticles generate localized heat, destroying tumor tissue. Importantly, the process also produces both fluorescent and thermal signals, allowing for real-time visualization of the tumor and monitoring of the treatment’s effectiveness.
The use of near-infrared light is a key advantage of this approach. Unlike visible light, near-infrared light possesses a greater ability to penetrate the body’s tissues, making it suitable for treating tumors located deeper beneath the surface. This expands the potential applications of photothermal therapy to a wider range of cancers.
This research aligns with broader advancements in nanomedicine for cancer treatment. Recent developments, as highlighted in news reports, demonstrate the growing interest in light-based nanotechnology as an alternative to conventional cancer therapies. Similarly, research into DNA nanotechnology is revolutionizing both tumor diagnosis and treatment.
the field is seeing innovations in targeted drug delivery, such as the use of biochemically triggered cleavable conjugation for precision medicine. And advancements in photodynamic therapy, utilizing gold nanoparticles, are redefining the approach to cancer treatment.
Researchers are also exploring novel delivery methods, such as intranasal nanomedicine, which shows promise in treating glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer.
The NYU Abu Dhabi team’s findings represent a significant step forward in the development of safer, more effective light-based cancer treatments. The integrated system for both diagnosis and therapy offered by these nanoparticles holds considerable promise for improving cancer treatment precision and patient outcomes. Further research and clinical trials will be necessary to fully evaluate the potential of this technology.
