Vibrating Molecules Can Kill 99% of Cancer Cells Without Hurting Healthy Tissue

Researchers have just developed a promising strategy to combat melanoma, offering a potential new pathway in cancer treatment. This article explores their innovative approach, poised to change the landscape of oncological therapy.

Molecular jackhammers

Molecular Jackhammers Credit: James M. Tour

Read Also: Charcoal Nanoparticles Are Effective Anti-Oxidants, According to Researchers

These researchers from Rice University in Houston claim to have found a new way of destroying cancer cells by causing certain molecules to vibrate in response to a light stimulus. Their work, which opens up new therapeutic avenues, was published in the journal Nature Chemistry.

Highly effective against human melanoma cells

In the laboratory, the scientists discovered that the atoms of aminocyanine molecules, a class of synthetic dyes used for medical imaging, can vibrate in unison when stimulated by near-infrared light. This causes the cell membrane of cancer cells to rupture. According to them, the method was “99% effective against laboratory cultures of human melanoma cells” and “half of the mice with melanoma tumors were cancer-free after treatment”.

These “molecular jackhammers”, as the research team calls them, are “more than a million times faster in their mechanical movement than existing molecular motors”, which always rotate in the same direction to pierce the outer membrane of infectious bacteria, cancer cells, and recalcitrant fungi.

Read Also: Australian Study Shows mRNA Vaccine Combined with Immunotherapy Reduces Melanoma Recurrence Risk

Molecular vibrations to break through the membrane of cancer cells

Another advantage is that “they can be activated with near-infrared light instead of visible light,” explains chemist James Tour, lead author of the research, in a press release. “Near-infrared light can penetrate much deeper into the human body (about 10 cm) than visible light (0.5 cm) and can therefore access organs or bones without damaging tissues,” he points out.

This is a major breakthrough because it’s another explanation of how these molecules can work,” notes researcher Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, who took part in the study. It’s the first time that the vibrations of atoms in unison have been used in this way to excite the entire molecule and actually produce a mechanical action aimed at a specific purpose – in this case, breaking the membrane of cancer cells.”

Read Also: Melanoma Treatment: Tetracycline Can Help Treat Certain Forms of Skin Cancer

Final Thoughts

The introduction of molecular vibration technology could significantly enhance the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments. For melanoma patients, it offers a potential route to target tumors more directly, reducing the collateral damage to healthy tissues. Its adaptability might also lead to personalized therapies, tailoring treatments to the unique characteristics of different cancer types. As this technology evolves, it holds the promise of transforming cancer care, making treatments more targeted, less invasive, and ultimately more effective.

References

Ayala-Orozco, C., Galvez-Aranda, D., Corona, A. et al. Molecular jackhammers eradicate cancer cells by vibronic-driven action. Nat. Chem. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01383-y

Rice University. (2023, December 19). Molecular jackhammers’ ‘good vibrations’ eradicate cancer cells. EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029542

FEEDBACK:

Want to Stay Informed?

Join the Gilmore Health News Newsletter!

Want to live your best life?

Get the Gilmore Health Weekly newsletter for health tips, wellness updates and more.

By clicking "Subscribe," I agree to the Gilmore Health and . I also agree to receive emails from Gilmore Health and I understand that I may opt out of Gilmore Health subscriptions at any time.