NYU Scientists Create Light-Activated Nanoparticles for Cancer

Scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi have created microscopic particles that could transform how we fight cancer, using light instead of harsh chemicals to target tumors. The breakthrough offers hope for patients seeking treatments with fewer devastating side effects.

The team designed nanoparticles no bigger than a speck of dust, made from hydroxyapatite, the same mineral found naturally in our bones and teeth. When doctors shine near-infrared light on a tumor, these particles heat up and destroy cancer cells while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.

The innovation solves a problem that has frustrated researchers for years. Previous light-based treatments broke down too quickly in the body or never reached the tumors effectively.

These new particles are coated with special lipids and polymers that help them avoid the immune system and stay in the bloodstream longer. They're also designed to take advantage of something unique about tumors: cancer tissues are slightly more acidic than healthy ones.

A small protein on each particle's surface becomes active in that acidic environment, essentially creating a key that unlocks cancer cells. This means the treatment gets inside tumors efficiently while mostly ignoring normal tissue.

The researchers chose near-infrared light specifically because it penetrates deeper into the body than regular visible light. This allows doctors to treat tumors that aren't close to the skin's surface.

Professor Mazin Magzoub, who led the study, explains that the system does double duty. The particles not only deliver treatment but also create fluorescent signals that let doctors see exactly where tumors are and monitor how well the therapy is working in real time.

The particles are completely biodegradable, breaking down naturally in the body after they've done their job. Tests showed they remain stable, protect their therapeutic cargo from breaking down, and accumulate right where they're needed most.

Why This Inspires

For cancer patients, the side effects of treatment can sometimes feel as devastating as the disease itself. Chemotherapy and radiation attack fast-growing cells throughout the body, causing hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and damage to healthy organs.

This targeted approach represents a fundamental shift in how we might treat cancer. Instead of flooding the entire body with toxic chemicals, doctors could one day shine light on specific tumors and watch them disappear while patients experience minimal side effects.

The research, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, marks an important step toward making cancer treatment both more effective and more humane. While more testing is needed before the therapy reaches patients, the results demonstrate that gentler, precision treatments are possible.

Every advance that brings us closer to treatments that heal without harm is worth celebrating.