Nanoshell-Mediated Photothermal Cancer Therapy

       An exciting new method of cancer treatment has been developed and tested. This method was specifically tested for treating gliomas, which are brain tumors that are currently very aggressive and difficult to treat. Nanoshells with non-conducting silica interiors and thin gold exteriors are injected into the body. Within 24 hours, the nanoshells enter the tumors and are activated by near-infrared light. The activated nanoshells heat up the tumors, which destroys them irreversibly. 

       This method was tested on tumor-induced mice. The control group was injected with saline solution and then treated with a near-infrared laser. The experimental group was injected with the nanoshells. Their blood was tested for the presence of gold to determine that after 24 hours the nanoshells had concentrated inside the tumor. Ninety days after the treatment, over half of the nanoshell group was still alive and remained tumor free. None of the control group survived more than 24 days.
       This breakthrough is important to me because cancer has affected many lives around me. I decided as a child that my goal in life was to find cures for cancer, so improvements in that field are very exciting to me. This is also very important for everyone because gliomas are currently very difficult to treat. Only 5% of patients survive over 5 years, and half die within one year of being diagnosed. This is also an inspiration to us as engineers that nothing is impossible, sometimes you just need to be creative with the solution.

Tessa Bronez

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Science Daily

National Cancer Institute

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