"Revolutionary 'Molecular Jackhammers' Obliterate Cancer Cells with Vibrations"
Scientists at Rice University have discovered a new method to destroy cancer cells using molecules that vibrate strongly when stimulated by near-infrared light. The researchers found that these molecules, known as molecular jackhammers, can rupture the cell membrane of cancerous cells, leading to their destruction. In lab cultures of human melanoma cells, the method had a 99 percent efficiency, and half of the mice with melanoma tumors became cancer-free after treatment. The molecular jackhammers are activated by near-infrared light, which can penetrate deeper into the body without damaging tissue. This breakthrough could offer a new approach to treating cancer using mechanical forces at the molecular scale.
