A team of scientists at Rice University has unveiled a revolutionary new approach to fighting cancer — using tiny dye molecules activated by near-infrared light to literally shake tumor cells apart. Their early results are thrilling: up to 99 % of lab-grown human melanoma cells were destroyed, and in animal tests, some tumors completely disappeared.
How it works
The method relies on a class of synthetic dyes known as aminocyanines, which have historically been used in medical imaging. The Rice team discovered that when these dyes bind to the outer membrane of a cancer cell and are exposed to near-infrared light, the molecules vibrate extremely rapidly — acting like microscopic jackhammers that rupture the cell membrane.
Unlike many conventional treatments, this process is mechanical rather than chemical or thermal. The researchers call it vibronic-driven action (VDA), and because it does not rely on heat or reactive oxygen species (as in photothermal or photodynamic therapy), it presents an entirely new modality.
Why it matters
One major advantage of using near-infrared (NIR) light is that it can penetrate much deeper into body tissues than visible light — up to several cm rather than just millimetres. That means this technique could target tumors in deeper organs (though much work remains).
In laboratory tests, the team achieved complete eradication of melanoma cells in culture. In mouse models, about half the treated animals became tumor-free after a single treatment.
Because the mechanism is based on mechanical destruction, rather than specific chemical pathways that tumors can evolve resistance to, the hope is that this could bypass many of the resistance problems seen with chemotherapy or targeted agents.
The research behind it
The central study — Molecular Jackhammers Eradicate Cancer Cells by Vibronic-Driven Action — was published in Nature Chemistry.
In their experiments:
The aminocyanine molecules were allowed to anchor to the lipid bilayer of tumor cells.
They then irradiated the cells with NIR light, inducing synchronized whole-molecule vibrations in the dye (called plasmons) that physically ruptured the cell membrane.
In vitro (lab cell culture) tests showed nearly 99 % kill-rate of human melanoma cell lines.
In mouse tumour models, approximately 50 % of mice became tumour-free after treatment.
What’s next & challenges
While the results are indeed promising, the technology remains at an early stage. It has been tested in animal models, but not yet in humans. Some key challenges ahead include:
Ensuring safety in humans: how the dye distributes in the body, how long it stays, whether it affects healthy tissue.
Scaling the treatment for deeper or larger tumours, including ensuring consistent light delivery to the site.
Optimising which cancers or tumour types respond best. So far the work has focused on melanoma cells.
Regulatory approval and clinical trials: the researchers estimate that it may take several years before human trials commence.
Why this could be a breakthrough
The notion of a treatment that can “jackhammer” tumour cells from the inside out offers a fresh alternative to existing therapies which often rely on chemical toxicity, immune activation, or heat. Because the mechanism sidesteps typical resistance pathways and uses low doses of dye plus light, it may open new horizons in precision cancer therapy. Also, the deeper penetration of NIR light means tumours in less accessible locations might be treated non-invasively in future.
What patients/clinicians need to know
This is not yet available as a standard treatment. Clinical trials will be needed.
The technique currently applies to research settings; widespread human use remains some years off.
It is particularly exciting for tumours that are resistant to current therapies or are situated in hard-to-reach tissues.
As always, treatment decisions should be made in consultation with oncologists, considering all available therapies and clinical evidence.
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In conclusion, the Rice University team’s discovery of “molecular jackhammers” using near-infrared light to trigger dye molecules that physically disrupt cancer-cell membranes has the potential to reshape cancer treatment. While still in early stages, the reported 99 % destruction of lab cells and complete tumour regressions in some mice show that this approach warrants close attention — and, in time, rigorous clinical investigation.
Source:
Researchers: Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, Diego Galvez-Aranda, Arnoldo Corona, Jorge Seminario, Roberto Rangel, Jeffrey N. Myers & James M. Tour. Molecular Jackhammers Eradicate Cancer Cells by Vibronic-Driven Action. Nature Chemistry March 2024.
Press release: “Molecular jackhammers’ ‘good vibrations’ eradicate cancer cells”, Rice University News, Dec 19 2023.