Cancer treatment-Molecular Jackhammers

Scientists have discovered a new method to fight cancer using aminocyanine molecules.

Aminocyanine molecules - These aminocyanine molecules are termed molecular jackhammers.
These molecules show a remarkable capability to break apart cancer cell membranes when stimulated by near infrared light.
The use of near infrared light holds significant importance, as it facilitates deeper penetration into the body.
In comparison to their predecessors, these molecular jackhammers demonstrate over a million times faster mechanical motion.
These molecules are commonly used as synthetic dyes in bio imaging.
Bio imaging - It is a term that refers to a procedure in which there is no involvement of tools that can invade the skin or physically enter the body, and it allows scientists to view biological functions in real time.
The purpose of bio imaging is to cause as minimal disruption to live processes as possible.

In experiments conducted on cultured cancer cells, the molecular jackhammer method exhibited a staggering 99 per cent success rate in destroying cells.

Test - Moving from lab settings to living organisms, the approach was tested on mice with melanoma tumors, resulting in half of the animals becoming cancer-free.
Working - Aminocyanine molecules possess a unique structure and chemical properties that synchronize with the right stimulus, near infrared light.
As these molecules move, the electrons within them form plasmons, collective vibrating entities that induce movement throughout the entire molecule.
The plasmons, resembling molecular arms, connect with cancer cell membranes and, through vibrational movements, dismantle them.

Plasmons are collective oscillations of the electrons, which are present at the bulk and surface of conducting materials and in the neighborhood of conducting particles.

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