Chemotherapy often damages healthy cells. But a new form of ultrasound-activated chemotherapy developed by researchers at City University of Hong Kong could provide a more precise and targeted approach.
The researchers developed a sono-activatable anticancer prodrug called cyaninplatin. When injected into mice, cyaninplatin accumulated in tumor tissue. The researchers then used focused ultrasound to activate the cyaninplatin, which released a chemotherapy drug that killed the cancer cells.
In experiments, the researchers found that ultrasound-activated cyaninplatin was effective in inhibiting tumor growth and eradicating tumors in mice. The treatment also showed minimal side effects.
The researchers say that their findings could lead to a new and improved approach to cancer treatment. Ultrasound-activated chemotherapy could potentially be used to treat deep tumors that are difficult to reach with traditional chemotherapy drugs.
News Source: CityU
