Researchers at UT Austin and the University of Porto describe a non-invasive near-infrared photothermal therapy that uses tin-based nanoflakes (SnOx) to absorb 810 nm light and convert it into heat that kills cancer cells in lab tests. The team reports up to 92% kill rate for skin cancer cells and about 50% for colorectal cells while largely sparing healthy cells. The irradiation setup is inexpensive (~$530) and can treat multiple samples, but the findings are preliminary and need animal studies and clinical trials before human use.
New Light-Based Cancer Therapy Uses Tin Nanoflakes to Heat and Kill Tumour Cells
Researchers at UT Austin and the University of Porto describe a non-invasive near-infrared photothermal therapy that uses tin-based nanoflakes (SnOx) to absorb 810 nm light and convert it into heat that kills cancer cells in lab tests. The team reports up to 92% kill rate for skin cancer cells and about 50% for colorectal cells while largely sparing healthy cells. The irradiation setup is inexpensive (~$530) and can treat multiple samples, but the findings are preliminary and need animal studies and clinical trials before human use.
01:03 AM, 11/11/2025Health
Light-activated, non-invasive approach heats and destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Porto have reported a promising near-infrared photothermal therapy that uses two-dimensional tin-based nanoflakes (SnOx, where Sn = tin) to selectively absorb light and convert it into localized heat that can kill cancer cells in laboratory tests.
How it works
The approach relies on near-infrared (NIR) light—specifically LEDs that emit at about 810 nanometers—and tiny SnOx nanoflakes that preferentially accumulate in cancer cells. When illuminated, the nanoflakes absorb the NIR radiation and convert it into heat, producing a lethal thermal dose inside malignant cells without exposing the whole body to drugs or ionizing radiation. Wired and the authors report that the wavelength used is the same as that commonly applied in photobiomodulation research, though the mechanisms and clinical aims differ.
Laboratory results
In vitro (cell-culture) tests described in ACS Nano showed substantial cancer-cell killing: up to 92% of tested skin cancer cells and about 50% of colorectal cancer cells were eliminated under the experimental conditions, while healthy cells in the same tests were largely preserved. These results are preliminary and limited to laboratory models rather than animal or human clinical trials.
Affordability and accessibility
The reported irradiation setup costs roughly $530 and can treat 24 samples at once, which the authors highlight as an advantage for research and potential low-cost therapy deployment. Co-author Artur Pinto of the University of Porto suggests that, for some skin cancers, a portable device could one day be used after surgery to target residual cells and reduce recurrence risk—if further testing confirms safety and effectiveness.
Limitations and next steps
The study is an early-stage proof of concept. Key challenges remain, including confirming selective uptake and safety in living organisms, scaling delivery to tumours in patients, optimizing nanomaterials and light delivery, and completing rigorous preclinical and clinical trials. The team plans to explore alternative catalyst materials, improve efficiency, and progress through additional trials before this approach could be considered for clinical use.
Bottom line: Near-infrared photothermal therapy with SnOx nanoflakes is a promising, low-cost laboratory technique that may become a complementary, localized cancer treatment in the future, but it requires substantial further testing to confirm safety and efficacy in humans.