Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto have created a cancer treatment using LED light and tin nanoflakes that destroys up to 92% of skin cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. This affordable alternative to traditional therapies relies on near-infrared photothermal principles. The breakthrough, published in ACS Nano, aims to make targeted cancer care more accessible worldwide.
The new therapy combines low-cost LEDs with SnOx nanoflakes—ultra-thin tin-based materials—to precisely heat and eliminate cancer cells. Developed through the UT Austin Portugal Program, the collaboration began in 2021 and has already yielded promising results in lab tests. After just 30 minutes of exposure, the treatment eradicated 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of colorectal cancer cells, while leaving healthy human skin cells intact.
"Our goal was to create a treatment that is not only effective but also safe and accessible," said Jean Anne Incorvia, a professor in UT Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering. Unlike conventional chemotherapy or laser-based methods, which often rely on expensive equipment and can damage surrounding tissue, this approach uses everyday LEDs to avoid painful side effects.
Cancer, the second-leading cause of death globally, drives ongoing research into safer options like near-infrared photothermal therapy, which heats tumors without surgery or toxic drugs. The team, including lead Portuguese researcher Artur Pinto, envisions portable devices for home use, especially for skin cancers post-surgery to prevent recurrence.
"Our ultimate goal is to make this technology available to patients everywhere, especially places where access to specialized equipment is limited, with fewer side effects and lower cost," Pinto said. Building on the success, the researchers secured funding for a breast cancer implant using the same technology. Co-authors include Hui-Ping Chang and Eva Nance from UT Austin, and Filipa A.L.S. Silva, Susana G. Santos, Fernão Magalhães from the University of Porto, plus José R. Fernandes from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro.
The study appears in ACS Nano (2025; 19(38):33749, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c03135).