Scientists from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry named after. A.V. Nikolaev SB RAS has created luminous substances based on rare earth elements that will help detect cancer cells in the early stages. New drugs are non-toxic to healthy tissue and can become an important tool in the fight against cancer.
Cancer is one of the most complex and dangerous diseases, which often develops unnoticed. Cancer cells are capable of developing resistance to therapy, creating metastases and eluding diagnosis. To solve this problem, scientists from Novosibirsk have developed unique luminous substances based on rare earth elements.
These substances, called phosphors, are based on europium and terbium complexes. They have bright luminescence, which makes it possible to visualize cancer cells at the cellular level. The color of the glow depends on the metal used: europium gives a red glow, and terbium gives a green glow.
— Phosphor substances will help doctors detect traces of cancer at the earliest stages. This will allow targeted destruction of atypical cells without affecting healthy tissue,” the developers explained.
The drugs have already passed the first tests and have proven to be non-toxic to healthy cells. In addition to medicine, such luminescent materials can be used to detect defects in equipment, as well as to identify harmful impurities in water and air.
The development of Novosibirsk scientists opens up new opportunities in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The use of luminescent substances based on rare earth elements can significantly improve the accuracy of detecting cancer cells and improve treatment results.
Source: nauka.tass.ru
Photo: @bezrec
