Liquid Metal Nanoparticles for Phototherapy
“Liquid metals are a new type of material with unique properties. Pure gallium (Ga) and Ga-based alloys are one type of liquid metal used for immunotherapy in cancer treatment. The liquid metal nanoparticles help transition light energy into heat energy which kills the cancer cells. . . . . A new study in Advanced Functional Materials led by Dr. Eijiro Miyako from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) demonstrated gallium-based nanoparticles which combine phototherapy with immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is the treatment of cancer by activating the immune system and eliciting an immune response to target the cancer cells. The novel nanoparticles contain gallium and an immunological modulator known as imiquimod. Imiquimod is a treatment which binds to different infected immune cells and induces apoptosis or cell killing.” MORE
Image Credit: LabRoots.com