Researchers from Rice University, led by Professor Yildiz Bayazitoglu, have performed a research which showed that by combining two lasers and pointing them to nanoparticles in order to heat them up, it is possible to destroy the “bad” tissue, with minimum damage to healthy cells.

Of course, lasers and nanoparticles are already used in nanomedicine for treating cancer — the technique is based on using nanoshells and heating them up by near-infrared laser.

The outcome of this research depends on the properties of nanoparticles — their light-scatter in particular. “We’re afraid that the nanoparticles located near the surface of a tumor will block a laser from reaching those at the center.”

The details are published in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.

Adopted from materials provided by UPI.com