Work

LED light inhibits malignant tumors via high-density nanolocalized photothermal effects on cell membranes

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In traditional photothermal therapy (PTT), the collateral damage to surrounding normal tissues caused by strong laser radiation, and the cellular anti-apoptosis and cytoprotection mechanisms of cancer cells in mild hyperthermia PTT, severely limit the therapeutic efficacy of tumor treatment. Here, we present a targeted folic acid-modified Au-Ag nanoparticle-nanowire construct (FA-Au-Ag NPs-NW) that specifically targets and binds to the folate receptor-overexpressing membranes of cancer cells. This construct enables efficient high-density nanoscale photothermal conversion under mild conventional LED irradiation, a property derived from the enhanced local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the bimetallic Au-Ag heterostructure. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the construct avoids collateral damage to normal tissues, effectively inhibits the cellular anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective pathways, and induces tumor cell apoptosis through light-matter interactions, without the need for therapeutic drugs. This work offers a promising strategy for tumor treatment and broadens the application of LED-induced mild-temperature PTT for disease management.

Source: Nano Today

DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103000