From the ArcaMax Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/technology/s-567486-401928
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (UPI) -- Chemists at the University of
California-Santa Cruz say they've developed novel compounds that show
promise for photodynamic cancer therapy.
The compounds, called dye-sensitized ruthenium nitrosyls, are absorbed
by cancer cells and respond to specific wavelengths of light by
releasing nitric oxide, which triggers the cancer cells' death, the
researchers said.
"For cancer treatment, you want localized delivery of a very high
concentration of nitric oxide," said Professor Pradip Mascharak.
"We've designed these molecules to do just that."
Mascharak said one advantage of nitric oxide for cancer treatment is
that it induces an orderly type of cell death known as apoptosis,
which does produce the inflammation, pain and swelling normally
associated with damage to cells and tissues in the body. Mascharak
and graduate student Michael Rose recently reported their research in
the journal Inorganic Chemistry. In another paper published last year
in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they reported the
compounds were effective against breast cancer cells in laboratory
experiments.
"We know it works in cancer cells, so now we're very confident about
taking it to the next level," Mascharak said. "The idea for cancer
therapy would be to embed the compounds in a matrix that you can place
in the treatment site, then shine light on it to produce a high
concentration of nitric oxide."