A Bright Breakthrough: LED Light and Tin Nanoflakes Selectively Destroy Cancer Cells While Sparing Healthy Tissue

A novel cancer treatment developed by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto in Portugal uses low-cost LED light and tiny tin-based nanomaterials to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy ones unharmed. This approach promises a safer, more accessible alternative to traditional cancer therapies like chemotherapy and invasive surgery.

Published in ACS Nano, the research highlights the effectiveness of this light-based therapy in targeting skin and colorectal cancer cells. Using a specially engineered near-infrared LED system and innovative “SnOx nanoflakes” — microscopic sheets made from tin oxide — the treatment successfully neutralized up to 92% of skin cancer cells and 50% of colorectal cancer cells within 30 minutes, without harming surrounding healthy tissue.

Near-infrared photothermal therapy, the foundation of this work, uses light to heat cancer cells to death. While promising, current versions of this therapy often rely on costly lasers and complex setups that can cause damage to healthy tissue, limiting broader adoption. By replacing lasers with LEDs — safer, cheaper, and more portable — and using biocompatible tin nanoflakes, the new method breaks down existing barriers to treatment.

The project was born out of the UT Austin Portugal Program, a long-standing international collaboration between UT Austin and the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT). Since being matched in 2021, Incorvia and Pinto have exchanged expertise and visits between Austin and Portugal, leading to multiple breakthroughs in cancer nanotechnology.

The team now plans to investigate other materials that could enhance light-to-heat conversion and deepen their understanding of the therapy’s biological mechanisms. In parallel, they are developing new devices, including an implant for breast cancer patients, that apply this LED-driven therapy in clinical settings.

One of the most exciting aspects of this approach is its potential for global accessibility. Because LEDs are inexpensive and widely available, and because the SnOx nanoflakes can be produced relatively easily, the treatment could be deployed in low-resource environments where access to advanced cancer care is limited.

The researchers imagine a not-too-distant future where patients, especially those with early-stage or residual skin cancers, could be treated at home using compact LED-based devices. These would safely target cancer cells post-surgery, reducing recurrence and eliminating the need for aggressive drugs or hospitalization.

As cancer continues to be the second-leading cause of death worldwide, this interdisciplinary effort provides new hope for more targeted, less invasive treatments — shining a light on the path toward better, more humane cancer care.