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Nanoshells Search and Destroy Cancer

Researchers at Rice University in Texas have developed a new approach to fighting cancer, based on nanoscale particles that can both detect and destroy cancerous cells. The report appears in the April 13 issue of the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters. ACS is the world's largest scientific society.

Put simply, the technology is based on the development of tiny particles, "nanoshells", that uniquely absorb and scatter light beyond the visible region (i.e., near-infrared light beyond 700 nanometers). The particles are attracted to cancer cells and tend to congregate around them. The concetrated scattering of light in a particular region allows researchers to identify the presence of malignancies.

The novelty of this research, however, is that the nanoshells are optimized to absorb wavelengths of light that are passed harmlessly through the surrounding tissue. Light energy at these particular wavelengths is used to heat the nanoshells and destroy the nearby cancer cells in a non-invasive and highly targeted manner.

This is a technology you'll be hearing more about.