A Bioactive Glass Infused with Toxic Metals Can Kill Up to 99% of Cancer Cells
- A Bioactive Glass Infused with Toxic Metals Can Kill Up to 99% of Cancer Cells
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A Bioactive Glass Infused with Toxic Metals Can Kill Up to 99% of Cancer Cells
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A Bioactive Glass Infused with Toxic Metals Can Kill Up to 99% of Cancer Cells
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, and its treatment typically involves surgical removal of the tumor, followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
However, osteosarcoma frequently recurs in the same location, and once it does, the prognosis is often poor.
Scientists have introduced a new method for treating bone cancer: a bioactive glass infused with toxic metals that can kill up to 99% of cancer cells without harming healthy cells. In addition, it can aid in the regeneration of healthy bone.
Researchers from Aston University have developed this innovative approach. The material, bioactive glass, is composed of glass nanoparticles mixed with metals, which have previously shown promise in strong antimicrobial dental fillings and bone implants.
In this case, the metal used is gallium, known to be toxic to cells. While introducing gallium into bones might seem counterintuitive, gallium ions enter cells through specific receptors, which are highly expressed in cancer cells. This means that the “greedy” cancer cells absorb the gallium before it reaches healthy bone cells.
In laboratory tests, the research team cultured both healthy bone cells and osteosarcoma cells, treating them with gallium-infused bioactive glass. As expected, at a concentration of 5% gallium oxide, the glass killed 99% of osteosarcoma cells within 10 days, without harming healthy bone tissue.
These bioactive glasses also show potential for bone regeneration. After being cultured in a simulated body fluid for one week, new bone began to form.
Professor Richard Martin, the lead author of the study, noted, “When we examine the glass, we can observe a layer of amorphous calcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite forming on the surface of the bioactive glass particles, which indicates that bone is growing.”
Unfortunately, at the concentration needed to kill cancer cells, gallium oxide appears to hinder the regeneration of healthy bone cells. However, this challenge could be addressed through further work using animal models.
Dr. Lucas Sosa, a co-author of the study, added, “The safety and effectiveness of these biomaterials need further testing, but the initial results are indeed promising. The next steps in our research will focus on two aspects: (1) testing the anti-cancer properties of this material on bone metastasis cells, and (2) developing a minimally invasive injectable paste for bone cancer treatment.”
This study was published in the journal Biomedical Materials.
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