19.08.2024 • Newsbiophotonics

Implantable LED device to treat cancer

Photoactivated cells exhibited signs of cell death by light-induced pyroptosis.

Certain types of light have proven to be an effective, minimally invasive treatment for cancers located on or near the skin when combined with a light-activated drug. But deep-seated cancers, surrounded by tissue, blood and bone, have been beyond the reach of light’s thera­peutic effects. To bring light’s benefits to these harder-to-access cancers, engineers and scientists at the University of Notre Dame have devised a wireless LED device that can be implanted. This device, when combined with a light-sensi­tive dye, not only destroys cancer cells, but also mobilizes the immune system’s cancer-targeting response. 

This miniature, implantable LED device fights cancer with light. (Source: U....
This miniature, implantable LED device fights cancer with light. (Source: U. Notre Dame)

“Certain colors of light penetrate tissue deeper than other ones,” said Thomas O’Sullivan. “It turns out that the kind of light – in this case green – that doesn’t penetrate as deeply has the capability of producing a more robust response against the cancer cells.” Before the light can be effective in destroying cancer cells, a dye with light-absorbing molecules must be administered to the cells. The device turns on, the dye transfers the light into energy and that energy makes the cells’ own oxygen toxic – in effect, turning the cancer cells against themselves.

While other treatments also weaponize the cells’ own oxygen, this device causes a particularly serendipitous form of cell death. “Working together, biochemistry graduate student Hailey Sanders and electrical engineering graduate student SungHoon Rho perceptively noted that the treated cells were swelling, which is the hallmark of a kind of cell death, pyroptosis, that’s particularly good at triggering the immune response,” said Bradley Smith. “Our goal is to induce just a little bit of pyroptotic cell death, which will then trigger the immune system to start attacking the cancer.”

In future studies, the device will be used in mice to see whether the cancer-killing response initiated in one tumor will prompt the immune system to identify and attack another cancerous tumor on its own. O’Sullivan noted that the device, which is the size of a grain of rice, can be injected directly into a cancerous tumor and activated remotely by an external antenna. The goal is to use the device not only to deliver treatment but also to monitor the tumor’s response, adjusting signal strength and timing as needed. (Source: U. Notre Dame)

Reference: S. Rho et al.: Miniature wireless LED-device for photodynamic-induced cell pyroptosis, Photodiag. Photodyn. Ther. 47, 104209 (2024); DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.104209

Link: Biomedical Photonics Laboratory, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, USA

PhotonicsViews

PhotonicsViews September 2025 available now!

PhotonicsViews September 2025 available now!

The new issue of the PhotonicsViews is available. Read the September 2025 issue for free as PDF or E-Paper.

inspect America

inspect America September 2025 available now!

inspect America September 2025 available now!

This edition covers the debut of two major trade shows in the US: SPS Atlanta and Embedded World North America, both showcasing significant advancements in the industry.

most read

Photo
10.06.2025 • NewsMachine Vision

The winners of the inspect award 2025

This time, with two additional categories, “SMEs” and “Artificial Intelligence,” the selection was even larger than usual. But now they have been chosen: the machine vision products of the year 2025.

Photo
07.07.2025 • News

Quantum technologies on the rise

World of Quantum 2025 in Munich recorded impressive growth with 160 exhibitors from 16 countries and over 22,000 visitors from 41 countries.