Light and Heat: A New Way to Fight Tumors

Tumors have a sneaky way of dodging traditional treatments. This has pushed scientists to explore new methods. One of these methods is photothermal therapy or PTT. It uses special agents to turn light into heat. This heat targets and destroys tumor cells. However, tumors can develop a defense mechanism. They produce a protein called heat shock protein 70 or HSP70. This protein makes the tumor resistant to the heat. To overcome this, researchers have combined PTT with another approach. They use a substance called indocyanine green or ICG. ICG is a type of photothermal agent. It works with small pieces of RNA called siRNA. These siRNA pieces can silence the gene that produces HSP70. This makes the tumor less resistant to heat. So, the PTT works better. To get ICG and siRNA into the tumor cells, scientists use tiny carriers. These are called albumin-based nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can deliver the ICG and siRNA right where they are needed. When these nanoparticles are exposed to near-infrared light, something amazing happens. They escape from the cell's waste disposal system and release their payload. This boosts the gene silencing activity. It makes the treatment more effective. So, this combo of light, heat, and gene silencing could be a powerful new tool. It might help to beat tumors that are hard to treat. However, there are still many questions to answer. For example, how safe is this treatment? How well does it work in different types of tumors? These are important questions to explore. The fight against tumors is complex. It requires a multi-pronged approach. This new method shows promise. It uses the power of light and heat to target tumors. It also uses gene silencing to overcome resistance. This could lead to better outcomes for patients. But, more research is needed to fully understand its potential.